Society

Wuhan to boost construction in 12th Five-Year Plan

By Guo Rui (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-02-27 17:24

WUHAN---The top leader of Wuhan, the largest city in Central China, has pledged to push ahead with his massive construction program despite strong criticism and opposition.

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Ruan Chengfa, party secretary of CPC Wuhan Committee, said he will insist on his policy of "digging" the city in the coming years, though some netizens blamed him for building works in the urban area over the past five years, and for plans to begin development of the suburban areas during the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), which inconveniences people in their daily lives.

Facing such questions, Ruan said that his actions were borne out of his sense of responsibility as leader. "If I stop construction, I will be worried for the city and the people living here," he said.

Ruan's words have been circulated on the internet, and provoked intense discussion about China's urbanization.

As People Daily reported, china's urbanization rate went up to 46.59 percent in 2009. It took China just 30 years to achieve this level even though it took western countries 200 years.

In the process of urbanization, construction using steel and concrete has become the main task of China's cities.

Last year, there were 5,000 construction sites simultaneously launched in Wuhan, which has a population of 9 million, the local media Metropolis Daily reported.

The large-scale construction produced heavy traffic and pollution. Consequently, during the city's People's Congress and Political Consultative Conference, many members and delegates in the two sessions submitted proposals for how to solve transportation difficulties and environmental concerns.

"I am afraid Ruan's words did not satisfy all of us," said Wang Bing, a professor specializing in environmental values at Huangzhong University of Science and Technology. He told China Daily that the city's attractive appearance and swift economic development has not contributed to the well-being of its citizens.

Wang said that his research has led him to believe people's happiness has been diluted by the changing environment.

"Though it is painful to push ahead, we cannot slow down the pace of construction," Wu Xinmu, head of Regional Development Research Institute of Wuhan University, told China Daily. He said that China is a developing country, and it has to promote infrastructure construction.

In his opinion, Wuhan should continue with the policy to build more roads, and it must pay more attention to solving traffic problems.

"Effective rules are needed," Wu added.

In the Municipal Government Work Report of Wuhan, it said that by 2015, Wuhan will have built a rapid transit system which will effectively alleviate traffic pressure.

"I am afraid that is only a wonderful dream, but I still have faith as I have had enough of the bad air and terrible traffic," said Li Jun, 38, a Wuhan local.