LATEST NEWS:

News Desk

Viet Nam News

Publication Date : 15-01-2013

The Ho Chi Minh City Transport Department blacklisted 440 contractors for delaying payment of a 6.6 trillion dong (US$316 million) fine for violating city construction regulations.

The contractors' violations included putting building materials outside construction sites and building without a licence, Nguyen Bat Han, deputy chief secretary of the department, told Nguoi lao dong (Labourer) newspaper.

Statistics from the department show that 13 contractors have still not paid their fines, which amount to 100 million dong ($4,800) each.

These violators include Housing and Urban Development's Cowaelmic Joint Venture Company, Tri Viet Thanh Co Ltd, Hoang Ngan Transporting and Building Co Ltd and Japan's Obayashi Contractor.

The contractors are mainly involved in projects to supply tap water and electricity, upgrade Dong Tay Boulevard and protect the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe River basin from environmental damage.

The transport department would reject all requests from the contractors to grant building licences or extend licence deadlines before they finish their payment, Han said.

An additional 19 contractors were ordered to compensate for causing 550 million dong ($26,400) in damages to public lights and traffic lights at nearly 20 local roads and intersections during the construction process.

The department has ordered urban transport management boards to pay for repairs. The money would be returned to the boards when the contractors pay for the damage, according to Han.

In December, the department suspended Ben Thanh Water Supply Company from digging roads for underground water pipes because the company damaged the road's surface in a previous project.