Empty homes in desert a sign of administrative indifference

HENGSHAN COUNTY in North China's Shaanxi province built its largest government-subsidized residential community in Maowusu Desert, 40 kilometers from the downtown area, a few years ago. It remains largely unoccupied. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Monday:

Work on the 2,104-home community was finished several years ago. It has largely remained empty since then. Only 96 families live in it. The community has no public transport connections, no heating system, which is common in the north, and no schools or hospitals nearby.

The residents brought the real estate developer to court, who explained the government has not yet finished constructing the supporting facilities, although it had dug a well to provide for the residents' drinking water.