On November 22, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters were present at An Duong Vuong Street (Coc Leu Ward, Lao Cai City) and recorded that the construction site was deserted and all construction activities had stopped. The completed works included erecting iron frames, pouring concrete yards, and building brick walls at the emergency exits.
Previously, Lao Dong Newspaper published the articles "Pickleball court in Lao Cai illegally built despite ban" and "Ward leader talks about unlicensed pickleball court in Lao Cai" reflecting on the fact that despite being "whistled" to stop, the pickleball court on the bank of the Red River, Lao Cai City was still brazenly built.
During the construction of the pickleball court, many local residents reported that Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen's family (Coc Leu ward, Lao Cai city) had arbitrarily blocked the emergency exit and filled the wastewater drain.
According to the leader of Coc Leu Ward People's Committee, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen's family has stopped all activities related to the construction of the pickleball court. The police are reviewing the family's land records.
Currently, Lao Cai city has also assigned the inspection departments to find a solution. As for the sewer blockage, when discovered, the ward asked the family to fix it, dredge and remake the sewer cover, returning it to its original state.
On November 22, speaking to reporters, Mr. Dao Minh Khanh - Head of the Urban Management Department of Lao Cai City - said: "After receiving the press's feedback, we requested the ward to suspend the construction and make a record. The issue of escape corridors and sewers is also being coordinated by the city's departments to resolve."
According to Mr. Dao Minh Khanh, the City Inspectorate has just held a meeting to handle and resolve the land auction. Because the land of this household was auctioned in 2005, after the auction, it has been transferred 2-3 times, so now it needs to be adjusted.
“Our view on infrastructure planning is that there must still be an escape corridor and it cannot be removed. The city will accept and direct the handling and compensation of the overlapping land so that households can remove the brick barriers,” added the Head of the Urban Management Department of Lao Cai City.
The Head of the Urban Management Department of Lao Cai City also informed that the land was previously rented by the family for parking, but because many people were playing pickleball, they built it on their own.
