Land kept safe by macro-control

In an interview with People's Daily, Li Yuan, Vice Minister of Land and Resources, reviewed the fruits of the one year campaign of rectifying the land market around the nation and unveiled the plans for further efforts on implementing the "most strict land management regime".

As the macro-control policy requires tightening land supply, companies exploring iron, alumina, and limestone for cement find it more difficult to get mining licenses than before. Stringent measures are also imposed for land supply for ferroalloy and calcium carbide sectors.

More land has been given to ordinary residential housing development while much less has been allocated to hi-end market like luxurious property projects. There is no patch for villas. As a result, there is balanced relationship between demand and supply, basically reasonable structure and stable prices for land use in the real estate market.

Policies forbidding land supply for golf courses will continue. Land used to build grand plazas, broad avenues, administration offices and training centers are under strict control with the cooperation of relative departments.

The Ministry of Land and Resources has beefed up inspection and supervision on land use, focusing on special development parks.

Remarkable results have been made through the campaign. Local governments have attached more importance to land resources use and improved their awareness of administrative practices on the basis of law.

The number of development parks has reduced by two-thirds. Half of the planned land has been cancelled. The land occupation spree for development parks has been curbed. 46,926 land-related cases have been exposed and investigations for 33,949 cases have begun so far nationwide. Probing and results are made public.

Land for construction is managed more strictly. There is less newly developed land available for construction projects. What's more, the market has begun to play a bigger role in allocating land resources. For the first quarter of the year, 26 percent of the paid transference of 531,000 mu land was open for bidding, auctioning and listing. This system of land use license for state-owned land for business purpose is in place around the country.

However, Li bears in his mind very clearly about the serious situation they are facing in this campaign. Illegal land use and rising complaints did take place in some areas even after the rectifying was launched. Illegal land approval and use will likely rebound if the control is loosened.

Given this, Li thinks there should be no laxation on this campaign. He vows to beef up their efforts with firm determination and improved administrative practice.

The implementation of all measures will be strengthened in line with the directions of the central government. Priorities should be given to the six aspects: land occupation, land approval, balance between occupation and addition of farm land, collection of fees for newly added land for construction, compensation and arrangements for land use, paid transfer of land for business purpose.

Farm land protection and concentrated land use should be promoted. One of the most important things is that the three "suspensions" should be carried out without any compromise, that is, suspending approving process of farm land for non-agricultural purpose, suspending any revision of newly approved land use planning in cities and towns upgraded from counties and villages respectively, and suspending any changes to planning of basic farm land reserves.

The Ministry of Land and Resources will join hands with other departments to take effective measure to do a good job of supervision and inspection. Investigations will be launched to serious illegal land related cases. Results of investigations into 9 such cases will be made public to the press. 7 teams have been sent to conduct direct probing into 7 serious cases. And provincial land resources administrations are asked to carry out investigations into clues of 6 serious cases.

A survey will be made to study the issue of land use for key projects during the "three suspensions" period. A long-run mechanism for strengthened land management is under consideration.

Legitimate rights and interests of the people should be protected in the campaign of rectifying land use. Special attention should be paid to the problem of land losses and unemployment among farmers. Any infringement of farmers' interests will be prevented and corrected. Complaints on land issues will be regarded seriously.

The top decision-making bodies of the central government and the CPC (Communist Party of China) have issued documents to give detailed instructions on the reform of land resources management system under the provincial level. The focus of the reform will be given to improve the official management system and administration system and to reinforce the function of land resources administrations under the provincial level.

Local governments are working on implementation schemes for this reform. The Ministry of Land and Resources will perform its duties responsibly through directions and coordination to make sure the task is fulfilled smoothly.

By People's Daily Online