China will invoke its tightest management yet on
arable land in an effort to end misuse and blind investment,
according to a decision issued by the State Council.
The decision was ratified at a Wednesday meeting
chaired by Premier Wen
Jiabao. It calls for in-depth reform of the land management
system.
According to the decision, permits for development
zones established contrary to government regulations will be
revoked, and government departments at all levels as well as the
officials working in them who violate land-use laws will be
strictly penalized.
"China will spare no effort to protect existing
arable land from shrinking while working to improve the efficiency
of land use in industrial and commercial projects," the decision
says. "Farmland misappropriated for other purposes will be
restored."
The government will accelerate land management
reform, including improving the application of laws and regulations
as well as stepping up supervision. A minimum price norm for land
trading will be issued.
More substantial efforts will be made to protect
farmers' rights to land use and to guarantee that farmers who lose
their land are appropriately compensated. The government will also
speed the payment of such compensation.
The effective protection of arable land will be a
measure of the performance of local governments and officials,
according to the decision.
(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2004)