TV journalists beaten probing illegal buildings

Several journalists with China Central Television (CCTV) were beaten by unidentified men as they were preparing stories on illegal structures built on a flood-control reservoir, the Beijing-based China Economic Times reported on Thursday.

"The journalists did have some conflicts with locals during the coverage of the illegal structures on Monday, but nobody was injured," said Zhang Minqing, deputy director of the publicity department of Yuncheng city's Party committee.

The incident happened after the illegal structures at the Kuchi reservoir in Yuncheng city were exposed on Monday morning in an article by China Economic Times, a newspaper published by the development research center of the State Council, China's Cabinet.

The article, written by renowned investigative reporter Wang Keqin, attracted public attention and prompted the local government to launch an investigation the same day.

It said the structures violated the flood control law and other relevant regulations, according to investigation results published by the Yuncheng Daily on Thursday.

A complex composed of 1,000 villas targeting local entrepreneurs occupied nearly one-third of the total 213-hectare reservoir area. The average price of each villa is 5 million yuan ($738,000), it said. A five-star hotel, kindergarten, hospital and shopping mall are also planned in the area.

A newly-opened amusement park, wildlife zoo, business street and nearly 20 restaurants take up much of the dry reservoir bed, the report said.

"Local authorities will ensure the illegal operations of the park and other businesses were halted immediately," said Cai Tiegang, director of the city's supervisory bureau, who is in charge of the investigation.

"Relevant officials from the new area management committee, the city water resources bureau and other departments will be dealt with according to law, after the investigation is completed," Cai said.

But Zhang said some parts of the report were "twisted".

"Instead of 1,000, only 11 villas were constructed and have been halted since June 2009 when the illegal constructions were discovered by the authorities," he said.

He did not say whether the villas and other structures would be demolished.

Neither Yuncheng water resources bureau nor Konggang new area management committee officials could be reached for comment on Thursday.

Illegal structures on dry reservoir beds or flood control dams are frequently reported in China, causing concern over the effectiveness of flood-control facilities.

Source:China Daily