As Lao Dong Newspaper has reported, more than 1km from the C13 Central Market (Thanh Truong Ward, Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien Province) is a newly formed spontaneous market and is operating busily right along the national highway, posing many potential risks to traffic safety.
It is worth mentioning that this market was built on agricultural land (rice land) of more than 2,500m2 and did not comply with legal regulations. In just 2 weeks, this place has attracted a large number of people to buy and sell, even dozens of temporary shelters have been built.
According to some people's reflection, the spontaneous market area is located near National Highway 12 and Dien Bien Phu City Bus Station, especially in the late afternoon, when people and vehicles pass by a lot, posing a potential risk to traffic safety.
According to the reporter's investigation, this spontaneous market has not yet collected any fees. Meanwhile, the C13 Central Market about 1km away was built spaciously but people did not attend the market because it did not suit their needs and was not convenient for business.
Discussing this issue with Lao Dong, Mr. Cao Dai Duong - Chairman of Thanh Truong Ward People's Committee, Dien Bien Phu City - said that on March 24, the ward's working group coordinated with the city's Urban Order Management Team to draw up a record of administrative violations in the field of land against Mr. Nguyen Huu Phuc (owner of the spontaneous market land) for the administrative violation of "Intentionally converting from rice-growing land to non-agricultural land.
According to the conclusion of the inspection team, Mr. Nguyen Huu Phuc dumped land to level rice fields with a total area of 2,545m2. Of which, a concrete foundation of 1,089m2 has been poured; 72 tents are made of bamboo columns, bamboo frames are covered with tarpaulins; a 15m2 iron and corrugated iron frame house is built.
However, Mr. Cao Dai Duong - Chairman of Thanh Truong Ward People's Committee said: "Mr. Nguyen Huu Phuc's administrative violation exceeded the authority of the ward, so the Ward People's Committee sent a report and requested the Dien Bien Phu City People's Committee to issue a decision to impose a fine".
Speaking to Lao Dong Newspaper reporter, Mr. Tran Quy Hung - Vice Chairman of Dien Bien Phu City People's Committee confirmed that he had received a report from Thanh Truong Ward People's Committee. However, Mr. Hung affirmed that the handling of administrative violations must be handled by Thanh Truong ward.
"The ward must establish an inspection team to determine the nature and extent of the violation. If within the authority prescribed by law, the ward will impose a fine. In case of exceeding the authority, the violation file will be transferred and the City People's Committee will be requested to issue a decision to sanction" - Mr. Hung said.
Mr. Hung also said that after receiving the report, the city assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to verify the information and instruct the People's Committee of Thanh Truong Ward to establish an inspection team to handle violations according to regulations.
While authorities at all levels have not yet clarified their responsibility in handling violations, spontaneous markets are still blatantly operating on thousands of square meters of agricultural land, causing public outrage and raising many questions about the role of management units.
