The Hanoi People’s Committee and Department of Construction are considering a proposal to reclaim one hectare of Ba Dinh District’s Thanh Cong Lake to build a resettlement apartment complex.
Viet Hung Urban Development and Investment JSC (VIHAJICO), the proposed project's developer, told DTI that, if approved, the lake infilling would reduce the time needed to finish their previously assigned resettlement project, since residents wouldn’t have to move to temporary housing.
In addition, the work wouldn't change the area of the lake as the plan is to expand the lake northward by exactly one hectare, a VIHAJICO representative told VnExpress.
He also claimed the move would help develop the landscape surrounding Thanh Cong Lake, and that the majority of local residents responded in favor of the proposal when consulted in a recent survey.
However, the plan is facing staunch opposition from both urban planning experts and Hanoians.
In an interview with Zing, Dr. Pham Sy Liem, vice chairman of the Vietnam Association of Construction, opined that filling in the lake is “unreasonable”, adding that lakes carry out their function at their original location. Thus, artificially expanding Thanh Cong Lake to make up for the lost area is purposeless.
Local netizens were also quick to point out that reducing the lake area could damage the city’s environment and affect the lives of nearby residents.
"The lakes are considered the lungs of Hanoi," Pham Van Manh, a Hanoian, wrote to Dan Tri. "We have to protect all of them including Thanh Cong Lake. I live near the lake and I see it attracts thousands of people who do exercise or get fresh air every day."
[Photo via Zing]
