The Ministry of Land and Resources on Wednesday announced the results of its satellite land use monitoring program since the system was adopted in 1999.

"Photos taken from the upper air by the system are of high definition and resolution. It can detect as small as a 0.5 mu (about 300 square meters) increase in construction area. And coupled with detailed analyzing data, we can follow the land use situation accurately," said Yu Kongrang, an officer with the ministry.

"It will be almost impossible for any trick," Yu said.

According to the system, 21,643 mu (about 1,443 hectares) of land was used to construction projects in Beijing from September 2001 to October 2002, in which more than 95 percent was arable land. Tianjin, a neighboring city of Beijing, saw 82,432 mu (some 5,495 hectares) of land used in construction during the same period, 37,556 mu (around 2,504 hectares) of which was arable land.

Specifically, the system focuses on the illicit use of arable land, mine exploration and geological disasters, Yu said.

In 2003, under the satellite system's guidance, China shut down 234 iron mines and recorded illegal mining in Shanxi Province, a region which suffers from frequent mining accidents.

In recent years, the ministry has inspected 104 cities for inappropriate use of arable land, covering 1.8 million square km.

The supervision of areas with large mining operations, including Shanxi Province, Beijing, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in north-west China have attracted special attention.

(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2004)