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China's local governments ordered to shape up on arable land protection (2) |
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08:55, July 13, 2007 |
The world''s most populous nation faces a severe farm land shortage. At the end of 2006, its arable land declined from 2005''s 122 million hectares to 121.8 million hectares, only a stone''s throw away from the official bottom line of 120 million hectares.
The central government has pledged to adopt very strict land control but some local governments obsessed with economic growth still break laws and brutally sacrifice the interests of farmers.
"The number of land misuse cases is going down, but the problem is far from being eradicated," Xu said.
Between January and May, China investigated 24,245 illegal land use cases, down 3.6 percent year-on-year, involving 14,667 hectares, down 12.14 percent year-on-year.
Ninety-nine commercial bribery crimes relating to land use have been uncovered worth a combined 43.3 million yuan (about 5.85 million U.S. dollars). Sixty-six people received criminal sentences, with another 37 getting Party or administrative disciplinary penalties.
Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan has urged local governments and individuals to provide and gather accurate land data in the second national land survey that began on July 1st as up-to-date and accurate land data would bolster the government''s tough land control measures and safeguard the arable land minimum.
"The central government will tolerate no cheating or changing data," he has warned.
Sources with the Ministry of Supervision and Land and Resources have required their provincial departments to submit monthly reports on their latest inspection results and the response of local governments.
They say that a new land inspection storm is brewing as the land use overhaul will be strengthened at grass-root levels, with the focus at government officials flouting regulations to approve illegitimate land use and the transfer of use rights for state-owned lands at cheaper costs.
According to a joint statement released by both ministries on Thursday, major leaders of local governments are to be held full responsible for perpetrations within their jurisdiction and required to provide full support to land inspectors and to respond quickly to problems.
The ministries urged local governments to "turn their head" to review the illegal land use cases uncovered between January 2005 and September 2006 to make sure past problems were rectified and perpetrators were penalized in line with law.
No organizations or individuals are allowed to hide or shelter land misuse cases.
Source: Xinhua
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