The market has not been approved for investment
According to the investigation of Lao Dong Newspaper reporters, a market located in Ha Binh commune, former Ha Trung district, now Hoat Giang commune, Thanh Hoa province, has existed and operated for many years but has not been approved for investment by competent authorities.
The market construction land is used by the household of Ms. Le Thi Ninh, residing in Thinh Vinh village, Hoat Giang commune. According to the inspection results of functional agencies, the land area is about 1,500m2, on which many construction items have been built and put into use many years ago.
The inspection record made by the former Ha Binh Commune People's Committee in 2019 determined that about 1,000m2 of the land originated from rice land of households. The remaining area includes unused water surface land and traffic land managed by the former Ha Binh Commune People's Committee. According to the plan at the time of inspection, this area was identified as industrial cluster land.
Previously, Ms. Le Thi Ninh's household had repeatedly sent documents requesting local authorities, departments, branches and Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee to consider and approve the investment in the Integrated Commercial Service Business Area Project. However, this proposal was not approved by competent authorities. However, the works serving business activities and market meetings are still being built, put into use and exist to this day.
In this area, many kiosks, corrugated iron roof houses and parking lots are formed. Every day, especially in the afternoon, many small traders come to display goods, including many people sitting selling right on the traffic road opposite Ms. Ninh's family's land.
Mr. Phung Tien Dung - Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoat Giang commune - said that after the press reflected on the actual situation of the market, the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province issued a document directing inspection and clarification.
Currently, the commune has assigned a professional department to re-examine the entire dossier. This area has two contents that need to be clarified, including the area of households that have been leased land and the area that has not been leased. Based on the inspection results, the locality will propose appropriate handling measures" - Mr. Dung said.
According to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoat Giang commune, through initial inspection, the area being used for parking was determined to be in violation and will be dismantled. Regarding the situation of spontaneous traders displaying goods on the traffic road opposite Ms. Ninh's family's land, the Commune People's Committee will assign the police force to inspect and handle it.
Mr. Dung affirmed the local viewpoint that violations will be handled and dismantled wherever they are. However, the handling must be based fully on land records, land lease scope, current land use status and origin of each part of the area.
Cannot arbitrarily collect money from small traders
During the investigation, some small traders said that the collection of money at the market is carried out and the money is paid to Ms. Ninh's household. "This market has been operating for many years, mainly every afternoon, at times hundreds of small traders come to trade. For kiosks, the amount to be paid can be up to several million VND per month. Small traders along the route are charged daily or monthly. In case of regular monthly sales, the amount to be paid is about several hundred thousand VND" - a small trader said.
Mr. Phung Tien Dung said that the local government has just received feedback and will assign specialized agencies to inspect and verify. Regarding the spontaneous market area, especially the area of traffic roads, trading activities are already violations, so it is not possible to arbitrarily collect money from small traders. "This issue, the commune will verify and clarify, if there are violations, there will be handling directions according to regulations" - Mr. Dung said.
