A Ho Chi Minh City resident has filed a suit against the Department of Transport for erecting barriers in front of his house-cum-restaurant, thus causing losses to his business.
According to the city People’s Court, Nguyen Van Lang has demanded compensation of VND252 million (US$13,000) for blocking access to his eatery and another VND120 million for causing his house to sink by building nearby.
“I filed the lawsuit because I have suffered too much loss,” Lang said. “Authorities cannot use public works as an excuse because public interest cannot damage an individual’s interest.”
Lang ran a restaurant in the front part of his house on Hoang Sa Street in District 1 since 2001.
Business went smoothly until early 2005 when Chinese contractor TMEC & CHEC erected barriers close to his front door for a sewage roadwork as part of a project to improve drainage in the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe canal basin.
The barriers were removed in early 2007, put up again later that year and only removed late last year.
Lang said the barriers obstructed access to his restaurant for 42 months.
When he protested a few years ago that his house had sunk and developed cracks because of the construction work nearby, the Chinese contractor offered him VND8 million in compensation.
But the Saigon Assessment Company calculated that repairs to the house will cost VND31 million.
In a meeting with Lang last year, the contractor agreed to pay only half of the sum.
Lang said his family was outraged and decided to file the suit.
The People’s Court said it is the first time that a city dweller has filed against the street barriers.
The barriers and the poor condition of roads pose a danger to road users. But city authorities have repeatedly called on people to be patient with the barriers since they would help ease the threat of floods.
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