Lawmakers are set to increase the punishment for damage to the country's scenic spots, a source with the Ministry of Construction said recently.

An official with the ministry was quoted by the Xinhua News Agency as saying that the revision of a new draft of the Scenic Spot Management Regulation has been completed, which puts an emphasis on protection of natural resources and environment at scenic spots.

According to the draft regulation, people who heavily damage landscape, vegetation and landform at scenic spots will be ordered to restore the original appearance and dismantle illegal constructions.

In addition, they will receive a fine of between 500,000 yuan (US$62,000) and 1 million yuan (US124,000).

The official said the current Scenic Spot Management Regulation is ambiguous, and penalties lack punch.

"Local governments therefore usually refer to regulations on scenic spot protection made by local legislatures, which are also weak in preventing such actions," the official said.

Zhou Xiong, secretary-general of the China Scenic Spots Association, said the new regulation is necessary to cope with increasing cases of damage at scenic spots in recent years.

"Scenic spots are our country's valuable heritage and often cannot recover once damaged," he said. "So it is not a matter of money because these places are priceless."

(China Daily August 24, 2006)