VietNamNet Bridge
– The Hanoi
People’s Council on December 7 discussed the city’s economic and social
situation in 2010. Many deputies were interested in the transparency of spending
for the city’s 1000th anniversary.

Hoa Binh Park, a project to celebrate Hanoi’s 1000th anniversary.

Deputy Nguyen Viet Hung said that the anniversary was Hanoi’s largest event
this year. On this occasion many of the city’s achievements have been
recognized. However, there are many matters that must be considered.

Hung said that the city’s incomplete newly-built works
revealed that the local government didn’t plan well, a situation that could be
well described as “letting grass grow under their feet”.

He said that works built to celebrate the city’s 1000th
anniversary also showed that Hanoi
was keen on unreal achievements. The two examples are Thang Long avenue and Hoa
Binh park. The city held the inaugurational ceremonies for these works even
though they were not completed.

He said that Hanoi
has had to continue many works after the great anniversary, especially after
the inspection of the Thang Long avenue project by the Government Inspectorate.
Hung questioned how many works in Hanoi
need inspection.

The deputy was very anxious because Hanoi authorities did not submit the
expenditures report for the 1000th anniversary to the ongoing People’s Council
meeting.

“The National Assembly questioned Hanoi about this issue and the city promised
to submit the report to the Hanoi People’s Council meeting but they didn’t. We
have to be transparent in spending to avoid the public’s suspicion about
misspending,” Hung said.

Other deputies, including Bui Thi An and Vu Duc Tan, also
proposed the city publicize the report earlier. An suggested to check the
quality and investment in some key works.

Tan said that the total spending on the great anniversary is
countable.

“The city must make clear the capital from the state budget
and from the people and how much it spent on cultural events, etc. The people
want to know this,” Tan said.

Related to the city’s economic and social report, deputy Bui
Thi An said Hanoi’s GDP growth rate in 2010 is high (11 percent) but not
sustainable.

Deputy Trieu Dinh Phuc doubted the city’s goal of 12 percent
GDP growth rate for next year.

PV