Angry villagers halt island project
Source: Xinhua |
January 18, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THOUSANDS of villagers angry at a local government plan to build an artificial island in southern China forced the project's suspension last week, clashing with workers and smashing vehicles.
The government in Wenchang, on the southern resort island province of Hainan, wants to build an artificial island as a tourist attraction. Villagers fear it will damage the environment and fishing grounds.
The plan involves reclaiming land and building a 225,800-square-meter artificial island near the entrance to Qingnan port, a spokesman with the city government said yesterday.
Construction began last Tuesday but was forced to stop after angry villagers came to the site. The incident escalated the next day when thousands of villagers at the site smashed government vehicles and clashed with construction workers. They also blocked a road to stop trucks delivering building materials.
Villagers said there would be fewer fish after the island is built and the port would become narrower with less space for ships to seek harbor, especially during typhoon season.
Villagers also believe the artificial island would disturb the nearby environment.
However, Lin Zhitie, head of the provincial marine and fishery bureau, said the reclamation would help ease erosion and promote tourism, accelerating local economic development.
The 2 billion yuan (US$300 million) project is part of the city's project to promote tourism after China announced a plan in January 2010 to build the tropical island into a top international tourism destination by 2020.
The government in Wenchang, on the southern resort island province of Hainan, wants to build an artificial island as a tourist attraction. Villagers fear it will damage the environment and fishing grounds.
The plan involves reclaiming land and building a 225,800-square-meter artificial island near the entrance to Qingnan port, a spokesman with the city government said yesterday.
Construction began last Tuesday but was forced to stop after angry villagers came to the site. The incident escalated the next day when thousands of villagers at the site smashed government vehicles and clashed with construction workers. They also blocked a road to stop trucks delivering building materials.
Villagers said there would be fewer fish after the island is built and the port would become narrower with less space for ships to seek harbor, especially during typhoon season.
Villagers also believe the artificial island would disturb the nearby environment.
However, Lin Zhitie, head of the provincial marine and fishery bureau, said the reclamation would help ease erosion and promote tourism, accelerating local economic development.
The 2 billion yuan (US$300 million) project is part of the city's project to promote tourism after China announced a plan in January 2010 to build the tropical island into a top international tourism destination by 2020.
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