Controversial Ha Long Bay buffer zone project suspended for environmental violations

Inspectors have ordered an immediate stop to construction of a controversial urban area project covering 3.88 hectares in a buffer zone for Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO heritage site.

The suspension was ordered after a team of inspectors found several violations of environment protection regulations in the construction of a road connecting with the project site.

Project construction began in July 2023 and was scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2026.

The project, which involves construction of 451 villas and semi-detached houses, hotels and commercial facilities, is located in an environmentally sensitive area, has attracted severe criticism from experts and the general public.

The location is in block 10B, Quang Hanh ward, Cam Pha town. The 31.8-hectare project, approved in October 2021, covers 3.88 hectares of the buffer zone to Ha Long Bay.

The project investor, Do Gia Capital Company Limited, won the project after a land use right auction with a VND1.19 trillion ($49 million) bid.

The inspectors found that one kilometre of the road construction had been completed. However, investor did not do anything to prevent the spill of mud, soil and rocks into the sea in several sections.

They reported that rocks and soil spilled from the construction site near the Lo Phong stream had rendered the waters turbid about five meters from the stream’s banks.

The investor had not taken any measure to remedy the spill of mud near a limestone outcrop at the end of the road.

Solutions to construction spillage outlined in the environment assessment report approved by the provincial People's Commitee for the project were not fully followed, the inspectors said.

They said soil was being taken away before and after construction, there was no arrangement to store the mud and prevent their being dumped into the sea. Periodic monitoring and reporting of environmental conditions around the construction site was not being done.

The investor also failed to provide documents related to the construction methods used at the site, construction logs and Cam Pha town’s approval for part of the construction.

The inspectors ordered the investor to stop construction immediately, adhere completely to the approved environment assessment report, and consult with relevant authorities before resuming work.

The investor should also hire consultants to reassess the status and future growth of the nearby mangrove, build an embankment line along with a sewage system prior to other tasks, and zone out the site before construction, they said.

They also asked authorities of Cam Pha town to closely follow environmental impacts and that of Quang Hanh ward to monitor Do Gia Capital’s observance of environmental rules to prevent further violations.

Quang Ninh authorities, meanwhile, have asked relevant agencies and Cam Pha town to check the situation and identify suitable solutions for the project to proceed.