A total of 6,133 hectares of land were prevented from illegal
use in China during 2006, following increased efforts led by the
Ministry of Land and Resources (MOLR) and the Ministry of
Supervision.
Wang Shouxiang, head of the MOLR Discipline Inspection
Commission, said the ministry probed 34 cases of illegal land use
last year. He did not provide details on the areas involved or the
nature of the cases.
The clampdown mainly focused on land development approvals that
were contrary to government policies and illegally expropriated
farmland, Wang said.
Half of the provinces have established compensation policies for
farmers whose land is expropriated, according to the official.
The ministry also probed eight cases on illegal development of
mining resources, he added.
China has been trying to reduce the amount of land available for
development by imposing higher taxes on urban land and stripping
local governments of their authority to spend the money earned from
such sales.
(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2007)