Inactive officials a drain on the national economy

Disciplinary punishments have been meted out to about 300 government officials for being lazy and inactive. Officials' idleness and inaction have stagnated investment, delayed development projects, slowed land development and prevented the revamping of shantytowns.

The problem the government faces is obviously not lack of money but the unwillingness of some local governments and their officials to spend the money properly. In the past, local leaders tried every means possible to get approvals from the central authorities for development projects or obtain projects invested in by the central government.

In August, 59 officials from seven provinces were punished for not actively performing their duties. A month later, 249 more officials from 24 provinces have been penalized for the same reason.