(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-10 15:28

BEIJING -- China's Ministry of Land Resources (MLR) has set a December 25 deadline to settle land violation cases filed during its 100-day campaign.

The campaign, launched on September 17, was implemented to crack down on local governments who illegally transferred household land to property developers. It would punish officials who failed to seek permission from higher authorities for land use and those who flouted decrees to expand the size of development zones.

The ministry ordered local land resource authorities to take compulsive measures against companies and individuals found to have violated land use laws. It would also halt relevant construction projects and return the land to local farmers.

In addition, illegal buildings would be removed and the cases publicized to bring shame on the perpetrators. Misappropriated land would be taken back by local authorities. Those found responsible for escaping government approval before using the land would be punished in accordance with law.

The ministry has required local departments to verify whether the land use cases had gone through the necessary legal procedures and to seek out those who have evaded certain authorizations. Users of the land would have to apply for new approval with all the charging items calculated by current standard that is usually more expensive.

Provincial-level land resource authorities were responsible for organizing inspection on key areas and projects. Regional bureaus of the state-owned land supervisory agency would keep a close watch on the inspection and report to the provincial governments and to the Ministry of Supervision, if necessary.

Land violation has evolved into a sticky issue in China as in 2004 the central government order promulgated to implement "the strictest land management policy". Since then, the order has continued to hit a variety of snags at local levels.

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