2 officials asked to review responsibility in ‘tree massacre’ plan

2 officials asked to review responsibility in ‘tree massacre’ plan

Nguyen The Thao, chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, has requested that the head and deputy head of the Department of Construction review their responsibilities in the implementation of a tree cutting plan.

Thao chaired a meeting on March 22 to hear reports on what has been done since the city authorities ordered a suspension of the plan on March 20 after some 500 trees had been chopped down, stirring up an uproar from the public.

After the meeting, Thao asked Le Van Duc, director of the construction department, and his deputy who is in directly charge of the plan, Hoang Nam Son, to review their responsibilities related to the execution of the plan, which aims to fell 6,700 trees in urban areas and grow new plants in replacement from 2015 to 2017.

In talking with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on March 22, Son said, “We will strictly review our responsibilities.”

Son also added that such a review does not mean those who have been involved in the plan are confirmed to have made mistakes.

Members of the public have directed fierce protests at the hasty implementation of the plan and the felling of many old and green trees, whereas Hanoi leaders had said they would only cut decaying trees and those at risk of falling over unexpectedly.

Many people have stuck the appeal “Do Not Cut Me” on the trunks of myriad trees around the city, and set up a Facebook page, “6,700 People for 6,700 Trees,” which had attracted more than 49,200 “likes” as of March 22.

Before formulating the plan, Hanoi authorities directed the Department of Construction and Hanoi Green Trees-Park Co. Ltd. to launch a survey in 2014.

The capital has about 120,000 trees of 70 kinds, Nguyen Thinh Thanh, the spokesperson of the People’s Committee, said, adding the survey found that 6,700 trees are aged, decaying or encroaching on the streets, of which many large trees are posing a threat to people and vehicles as they can fall at any time.

The department thus proposed that the People’s Committee replace these 6,700 trees from 2015 to 2017 at an estimated cost of around VND60 billion (US$2.82 million).

But since the city started carrying out the plan, many people have protested it because some of the trees which have been felled – as many as 500 – included those that were still growing well.

Several ancient trees that have witnessed the history of the capital and are therefore of great historical value would also be chopped down in accordance with the plan, Vietnamplus reported, saying it was one of the reasons for the public outcry.

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