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Village will be rebuilt in wake of subsidence
Source: Xinhua |
December 12, 2009, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A TOTAL of 154 people will have new or renovated homes under a government-funded plan to reconstruct a village that was damaged by subsidence caused by rampant gypsum mining in Hunan Province, local officials said yesterday.
The government of Hengshan County will cover the reconstruction costs for 33 homes, including 10 that were completely destroyed by subsidence, after housing experts complete an assessment next month, said Zhang Renjun, deputy head of the county government.
The villagers can renovate or build new homes on their own, but the local construction bureau will select safe sites and draft reconstruction plans, Zhang said.
Until the homes are ready, villagers will live in temporary homes. Each household has received a 200 yuan (US$29.3) subsidy and the government was planning further compensation, he said.
Subsidence ruined about 10 hectares of land on November 28 and was still occurring. Although no injuries were reported, it caused cracks in 23 houses and toppled 10 others in Guoguang Village.
Experts with the provincial geological department are studying the area, which has been cordoned off and is under 24-hour police patrol.
The deepest subsidence measured 1.5 meters and cracks in building walls were as wide as a hand.
"I saw my house collapse. I could do nothing but cry," said Xie Dongxu, who was playing outdoors with his grandson at the time of the collapse.
The subsidence was mainly blamed on excessive mining of gypsum, which is used to make cement and plaster, Zhang said.
The state-owned Hengshan County Gypsum Mine, located below the village, began operation in 1958.
"We will identify the people responsible as soon as possible," Zhang said.
The government of Hengshan County will cover the reconstruction costs for 33 homes, including 10 that were completely destroyed by subsidence, after housing experts complete an assessment next month, said Zhang Renjun, deputy head of the county government.
The villagers can renovate or build new homes on their own, but the local construction bureau will select safe sites and draft reconstruction plans, Zhang said.
Until the homes are ready, villagers will live in temporary homes. Each household has received a 200 yuan (US$29.3) subsidy and the government was planning further compensation, he said.
Subsidence ruined about 10 hectares of land on November 28 and was still occurring. Although no injuries were reported, it caused cracks in 23 houses and toppled 10 others in Guoguang Village.
Experts with the provincial geological department are studying the area, which has been cordoned off and is under 24-hour police patrol.
The deepest subsidence measured 1.5 meters and cracks in building walls were as wide as a hand.
"I saw my house collapse. I could do nothing but cry," said Xie Dongxu, who was playing outdoors with his grandson at the time of the collapse.
The subsidence was mainly blamed on excessive mining of gypsum, which is used to make cement and plaster, Zhang said.
The state-owned Hengshan County Gypsum Mine, located below the village, began operation in 1958.
"We will identify the people responsible as soon as possible," Zhang said.
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