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County uses public fund to build tourist temple
By Li Qian |
September 27, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A DROUGHT-HIT poverty -stricken county in central China's Hunan Province is alleged to have used public funds meant for water facilities to construct a temple to boost tourism income.
But the local government claims that money for the construction of the temple was donated by villagers, China National Radio reported.
Estimates show that the construction of Xiongshan Temple in Xinhua County would require 50 million yuan (US$7.83 million) and it would bring in 12 million yuan per year after it is completed, local officials said.
However, the construction has been suspended for two months owing to a shortage of about 30 million yuan.
The head of Chaxi Town, surnamed Cao, denied there was any "forced donation" but said that part of the money was given by local entrepreneurs while the rest came from so-called "donations."
He stressed that the town solicited contributions from the general public and the amount of money was just "directional instead of coercive," with no regulated quotas.
But the Party Secretary of Chaxi Town admitted that quotas did exist and differed from village to village. For instance, Zhenghui Village, as a big village having over 2,400 residents, was required to donate 10,000 yuan.
The local government cashier showed CNR a receipt which demonstrated that on June 7, Chaxi Town received 10,000 yuan which was under the title of "donation."
He said that funds due for the water facilities amounted to 35,000 yuan but actually he had just received 20,000 yuan. This amount could merely build a one-kilometer irrigation channel.
Xinhua County suffered severe drought in May and June, with more than 40,000 residents and 10,000 livestock suffering shortage of drinking water, fueling an urgent need for water facilities.
The Party chief of Zhenghui Village denounced such forced donation but said if the villages didn't pay how could the officials cover the shortage. "But it's nonsense to collect funds in this way for constructing a scenic spot."
But the local government claims that money for the construction of the temple was donated by villagers, China National Radio reported.
Estimates show that the construction of Xiongshan Temple in Xinhua County would require 50 million yuan (US$7.83 million) and it would bring in 12 million yuan per year after it is completed, local officials said.
However, the construction has been suspended for two months owing to a shortage of about 30 million yuan.
The head of Chaxi Town, surnamed Cao, denied there was any "forced donation" but said that part of the money was given by local entrepreneurs while the rest came from so-called "donations."
He stressed that the town solicited contributions from the general public and the amount of money was just "directional instead of coercive," with no regulated quotas.
But the Party Secretary of Chaxi Town admitted that quotas did exist and differed from village to village. For instance, Zhenghui Village, as a big village having over 2,400 residents, was required to donate 10,000 yuan.
The local government cashier showed CNR a receipt which demonstrated that on June 7, Chaxi Town received 10,000 yuan which was under the title of "donation."
He said that funds due for the water facilities amounted to 35,000 yuan but actually he had just received 20,000 yuan. This amount could merely build a one-kilometer irrigation channel.
Xinhua County suffered severe drought in May and June, with more than 40,000 residents and 10,000 livestock suffering shortage of drinking water, fueling an urgent need for water facilities.
The Party chief of Zhenghui Village denounced such forced donation but said if the villages didn't pay how could the officials cover the shortage. "But it's nonsense to collect funds in this way for constructing a scenic spot."
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