From Chinese Press

Greed over greenery

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-19 08:04

The scenic Erhai Garden has become a construction site for villas. Local authorities are to blame for the fraudulent transformation, says an article of the Yanzhao Metropolis News. Excerpts:

The Erhai Garden, previously famous for its landscape scenery in Yunnan province, has become a site for luxury villas and a five-star hotel in the name of "urban renewal". Destructive actions under the protection of local authorities have deprived the public of this leisure attraction.

Who should be responsible for the disappearance of the garden? Disorder in China's real estate development is caused not only by poor systems, but also by the abuse of power. The local government should be blamed for its fraudulent "transformation plan" and its abuse of public property.

Faced with resentment over its actions, local authorities defend the moves as a "legal process" of planning, examining and approving the project. But the "lawful actions" reveal exactly the hidden abuse of power, which boldly violate public interest.

(China Daily 04/19/2010 page9)