A nearly-completed high-rise that has been built 16 meters taller than allowable in an area close to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh District must have part of the structure demolished, construction authorities said.

The Hanoi Department of Construction has asked Le Truc Garment Joint Stock Company, the building’s developer, to make a plan to remove the upper part of the construction, Le Van Duc, the department’s director, said on Thursday.

The removal plan is required to be submitted to the Ba Dinh People’s Committee, which will consult other competent agencies on considering and approving the plan, Duc said.

The department made the move after the Hanoi People’s Committee issued a document asking all agencies concerned to properly handle the developer’s violations during the construction of the building, which is located at 8B Le Truc Street, Ba Dinh District, about 400 meters away from the mausoleum.

The high-rise, which remains under construction, has 19 floors above the ground and four basements.

It is now 69 meters in height, including 53 meters for the superstructure and 16 meters for the basements.

Compared to the license issued for the project by the department in March 2014, the building is 16 meters higher than the allowed level and its gross floor area is 6,900m² more than permitted.

The implementation of the partial demolition must ensure safety for workers and people as well as other houses nearby, and meet standards on environmental protection, the department said.

The removal must be supervised closely by all bodies concerned to prevent possible risks, the department added.    

The investor, headquartered at the same address as the building, also committed some other violations during the construction of the high-rise, the construction department said.

The department has asked the Ba Dinh People’s Committee to impose an administrative fine on the developer for its infringements.

The investor’s violations are serious, affecting the landscapes of the area, the committee said, adding that competent agencies have repeatedly requested Le Truc to stop the construction but it neglected the request.

In a report to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung about the case, the capital authorities said they will handle it seriously and consider the responsibilities of any individuals and organizations involved.

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