73 officials blamed in illegal land grabs

BEIJING - The Ministry of Land and Resources and the Ministry of Supervision publicized a list on Thursday of 73 officials from 31 cities and counties who had been punished for various infractions connected to the illegal use of land.

"In all these cities and counties, 15 percent of new land development was illegal, according to 2009 satellite images and the management of the market for land transfers has been disorderly," said Li Jianqin, director of the law enforcement and supervision department at the Ministry of Land and Resources.

Li told China Daily the 73 officials received administrative punishments that included warnings and demotions. He said no officials at the provincial level were involved.