Lam Dong (VNS/VNA) - To reduce the population pressure on the resort city of Da Lat, LamDong province authorities should not expand it but build satellite areas aroundit, an architect has said.

Dr Bui Viet Nam Son said vast areas are available for such expansion.

According to figures from the Lam Dong provincial People’s Committee, Da Lat,which was designed by the French for some 110,000 residents, now has apopulation of almost 280,000.

Son said the new Da Lat would be a 21st century urban area with wide roads,greenery and tall buildings as against the narrow roads and ancient houses now.

Nature should be preserved and greenery retained, he said.

In major tourism cities like Paris, the historical central areas have beenpreserved while new urban centres are developed nearby, according to thearchitect.

However, Da Lat has untidy, deteriorating and densely populated places justlike Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi do.

To ease the pressure caused by a burgeoning population, he said a large numberof residents should be moved from densely populated places to newly developedurban areas such as Cam Ly, Lien Khuong and Duc Trong.

The most important task would be to create favourable conditions for residentsto fully use and develop their ability. Based on these conditions, authoritiesshould make development plans and adopt supportive policies to ensure thesustainable development for Da Lat, he said.

For instance, relevant state agencies should earmark places for construction ofvillas and high-rise buildings and farming, he said.

Those who want to build villas near the centre should pay higher prices whiledevelopers of projects in satellite areas would be supported by authorities toensure their projects feasible, he said.

To relocate residents from the densely populated town centre, he said Da Latmust have other urban areas with comparable infrastructure and conveniences.

A new urban centre could be built in Lien Khuong, which has an airport and ahighway, with a new bus route launched to link it with the town.

Bao Loc, home to the handicraft of hand weaving and situated 120 km from thetown, could also be chosen to develop a new urban centre, he said.

With its natural beauty and handicraft, Bao Loc would help attract morevisitors to Lam Dong province, he said.

The new and well-developed urban centres would not only ease the pressure on DaLat but also help develop Lam Dong province, he added.-VNS/VNA