Campaigns to enforce zoning management of buildings in Vangvieng district, Vientiane province, are failing, with many of the regulations disregarded by property developers.
The local authority has gathered business operators to inform them about new zoning and environmental constraints, but some of the operators have ignored and breached the restrictions, according to Deputy District Governor Mr Phonekeo Khounphon.
“The relevant sectors have evaluated the situation after we imposed stricter zoning management from 2009 to 2010. Unfortunately there are some business operators who have failed to comply with these regulations and built extensions without consulting us,” he said.
The Provincial Tourism Department, urban planner and district authority went to inspect the buildings and discovered three that had breached the regulations.
According to zoning laws, the buildings are not allowed to exceed 12 metres in height.
“We are currently discussing an appropriate course of action and need to decide whether we are going to tell the owners to pull them down,” Mr Phonekeo said. “It is a difficult situation given the amount of money that has been spent on these buildings.”
The zoning management regulations were approved in 1997, but were not largely enforced. Many developers built without asking permission, which makes it even harder to find an appropriate solution, he said.
The Xong River has already been designated as a green area, which means tall buildings are not permitted. But Mr Phonekeo said businesspeople and landowners are trying to cash in on rising tourist traffic by expanding their buildings and bungalows without permission.
Many of the buildings along the river are obstructing views, which is one of the main reasons that the authority has imposed a stricter regulation to avoid overdevelopment and maintain Vangvieng's natural beauty.
But the district authority remains concerned about the impact of tourism on the development of Vangvieng, and the spinoff consequences for the environment.
Some people have already complained that restaurants and guesthouses being built along the riverbank have blocked the path of visitors to the river.
About 90 guesthouses and hotels have been built in the district.
“We admit that some guesthouses and restaurants haven't followed the zoning rules, creating obstructions to river views and access,” Mr Phonekeo said.
“To deal with this problem we have to work harder to educate people to think about the long term environmental impacts and benefits rather than their own short term gains.”
Vangvieng is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Laos and generates significant income for local people as well as the nation as a whole.
It is incredulous that a country like Laos cannot or unwilling to enforce zoning regulation when it does not tolerate any form of civil protest or open criticism. It seems that businesses know that relevant authority does not take the regulation seriously in the first place, that is probably the reason why they are willing to taunt it openly.
It is incredulous that a country like Laos cannot or unwilling to enforce zoning regulation when it does not tolerate any form of civil protest or open criticism. It seems that businesses know that relevant authority does not take the regulation seriously in the first place, that is probably the reason why they are willing to taunt it openly.
if those owners built without permit then the government has all the authority to have those structures demolished. If this will continue Vang Vieng will lost its magnificence and revenues.
Sadly, but I have to agree with you on this case. The #1 thing they need to do right away is clean up the drugs in town. Vung Vieng is very popular with those drug heads/backpackers. The drugs are cheap and that's why they all in Vung Vieng.
