Still massively constructed after request to stop
Lao Dong Newspaper has an article reflecting the incident on June 2nd, Ha Dong ward functional agencies requested the investor of the Hesco Trade Center, Office, and High-rise Apartment Project (Hesco project) to stop the construction of the wastewater treatment plant.
However, after the government requested to stop, construction activities in the area near the residential block of alley 131 Tran Phu still took place.
Continuously on September 8-9, PV of Lao Dong Newspaper continued to receive information that the investor of the Hesco project mobilized manpower and machinery to construct on the land strip adjacent to people's houses.
Households are worried that the construction process may affect the housing structure, living environment and safety of the area.
Notably, according to PV's investigation, in fact, before Ha Dong ward requested to stop construction, the Hanoi Department of Planning and Architecture had clearly pointed out that the wastewater treatment station arrangement plan did not meet regulations on environmentally safe distance.
In document No. 165/QHKT-HTKT sent to the Hanoi Department of Construction, the Hanoi Department of Planning and Architecture said: "The proposal to build an underground wastewater treatment plant, with a capacity of 900m3/day and night and arranged in a parking strip does not ensure a safe environmental distance to the existing residential buildings in the East and the planned villas in the West according to QCVN 01:2021/BXD (minimum 15m).
The project belongs to the basin of the Yen Xa centralized wastewater treatment plant (the plant has been completed, is undergoing trial operation, and is currently implementing the completion of the collection culvert network). Therefore, it is proposed that Thang Long Company contact the Project Management Board for Investment and Construction of Technical and Agricultural Infrastructure of Hanoi City (the investor of the Yen Xa wastewater treatment system construction project) to be provided with information and agreement to serve as a basis for proposing a design solution to connect the project's wastewater to the Yen Xa plant for treatment".
However, after that, the investor of the Hesco project still started construction of an underground wastewater treatment plant, located close to individual housing projects, causing public questioning about the reception of opinions from specialized agencies and the responsibility of the investor.
Investor admits mistake, switches to building clean water tank
On June 17, a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper had a working session with Thang Long Vietnam Housing and Urban Development Group Joint Stock Company (in the Investor Consortium) regarding the wastewater treatment plant of the Hesco project.
At the working session, the representative of the investor, Mr. Le Van Vi - Head of the project management board, said that the planning project from 2008 of the project "does not show the location of the wastewater treatment plant". By 2019, the Environmental Impact Assessment Report of the project also did not have a drawing showing the location of the wastewater treatment plant.
Then, at the end of 2023, the Investor Consortium including Thuy Loi Equipment Joint Stock Company and Thang Long Vietnam Housing and Urban Development Group Joint Stock Company conducted a review of dossiers and adjusted the plan. The Consortium repeatedly requested to adjust the plan, but was not approved by the City People's Committee.
Previously, the project no longer had land, to be honest, I had the idea to build under the parking lot a wastewater treatment plant with the most modern technology, the best cost, and the most optimal construction method. But through the review process, staying there, although I chose the solution, it was still wrong" - Mr. Le Van Vi said.
Speaking about the handling direction, this person said: "The joint venture of investors realized they had to change, we no longer use that location as a wastewater treatment station, but become a clean water tank.
According to PV's records, construction activities at the land strip adjacent to houses in alley 131 Tran Phu still take place after receiving the stop order from Ha Dong ward until now. The investor affirmed that the construction of a clean water tank is under the authority of the investor.
At the same time, Mr. Vi also said: "During the functional conversion period, we can move the wastewater treatment plant to the office, because the office is preparing a feasibility study report. The final approval decision is not yet available.
Answering PV's question about concerns that the construction process affects the house structure of households next to the project, Mr. Le Van Vi said: "We are a real estate company, so every company loses a lot of money on insurance. The previous insurance contract at the time of building this high-rise building was valid until August 20, 2026. Throughout that process, up to this point, only one house in alley 131 has cracked in the balcony, I have taken insurance to make an assessment and pay the money. Based on the contract my side signed for insurance, no matter what time, if anyone's house complains about something, we still have the responsibility to remedy, compensate, and repair it".
