Saigon's sidewalk-clearing campaign has stalled, with the effort's leader claiming that he has been ordered to halt the drive.
Tuoi Tre reports that several weeks of inaction by Doan Ngoc Hai, District 1's deputy chairman and the force behind the sidewalk reclamation project, have allowed vendors and businesses to return to their old ways.
Nguyen Thi Nhiem, a business owner in Binh Thanh District, told the news source, "at first, there were drastic measures taken by authorities, but after a month or so they stopped enforcing the rules."
"Some locals jumped at the chance to resume their occupancy of the sidewalks," she added. "The situation is now hardly any different than it was before the campaign, except for the newly painted lines."
This refers to lines painted on sidewalks in an effort to control parking and other activities.
The newspaper shares that throughout District 1, cars and motorbikes have returned to the pavements, while street vendors have reclaimed Nguyen Dinh Chieu and Cach Mang Thang Tam streets in District 3.
Meanwhile Hai, the gung-ho sidewalk clearer, says he has been ordered to stand down by his superiors. He is quoted by Tuoi Tre saying that "District 1's Party Committee and the People's Committee have issued two directives requesting that I stop leading the initiative to restore order on the sidewalks for the moment."
The official also denied rumors that he was reprimanded for his aggressive approach, which included demolishing structures in front of state-owned buildings and towing diplomatic cars.
"I can say in no uncertain terms that what I did was in accordance with the law on road traffic. I have yet to receive any notification as to whether I would be transferred to another position."
Other city officials told the newspaper that they are continuing the campaign on their own.
[Photo via Giai Tri]
