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Villas for the rich built in protected scenic area
By People's Daily website |
August 1, 2012, Wednesday
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VILLAS built in Lushan are sold, legally, to the rich at an average of 42,000 yuan (US$6,594) per square meter.
For your information, Lushan in Jiangxi Province is one of China's best-known summer retreats, listed as a World Cultural Heritage site, where every tree is assumed to be under protection.
Prior to this cultural designation, over the past decade the local Lushan Scenic Area Administration has relocated tens of thousands of ordinary people from the mountain area, as a measure to protect the scenic area.
Clearly, the relocation also paved the way for high-end real estate developments there. In spite of overwhelming public outrage, the local scenic site administration is quick to provide excuses. "These are just ordinary structures built by developers in keeping with local terrain," it said.
Of course, given the regulations, these pretentious edifices could not have been possible without collusion between powerful officials and powerful real estate developers .
There has been no lack of precedents. In 2005, following an expose about private villas in the scenic area in Lushan, the central government intervened.
One of the reasons such shady dealings are repeated again and again is the light punishment meted out.
For instance, in Lushan, illegal builders would be required to pull down the structure and might incur a fine of less than 200 yuan per square meter. No developers today would take this fine seriously.
The relevant government watchdog owes the public a true explanation based on a thorough investigation. There must be assurances that there will be no violations in the future.
For your information, Lushan in Jiangxi Province is one of China's best-known summer retreats, listed as a World Cultural Heritage site, where every tree is assumed to be under protection.
Prior to this cultural designation, over the past decade the local Lushan Scenic Area Administration has relocated tens of thousands of ordinary people from the mountain area, as a measure to protect the scenic area.
Clearly, the relocation also paved the way for high-end real estate developments there. In spite of overwhelming public outrage, the local scenic site administration is quick to provide excuses. "These are just ordinary structures built by developers in keeping with local terrain," it said.
Of course, given the regulations, these pretentious edifices could not have been possible without collusion between powerful officials and powerful real estate developers .
There has been no lack of precedents. In 2005, following an expose about private villas in the scenic area in Lushan, the central government intervened.
One of the reasons such shady dealings are repeated again and again is the light punishment meted out.
For instance, in Lushan, illegal builders would be required to pull down the structure and might incur a fine of less than 200 yuan per square meter. No developers today would take this fine seriously.
The relevant government watchdog owes the public a true explanation based on a thorough investigation. There must be assurances that there will be no violations in the future.
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