China will increase scrutiny over land use, said a senior
official with the Ministry of Land and Resources yesterday.
"At present, a resultant problem of this year's macro-economic
development lies in the huge number and large size of newly-started
projects," Pan Mingcai, director of ministry's department of
farmland protection.
"That has not only led to the overheated investment in fixed
assets, but will also push forward potential investment in the near
future," he noted.
To reverse the situation, land and resources authorities at
provincial level are urged to scrutinize construction project
applications made to the State Council, Pan said, citing a ministry
notice released on September 18.
This is a latest measure by the ministry since the State Council
promulgated a notice to rein in the rampant investment in fixed
assets in some sectors and regions through enhanced land control
efforts early this month, officials said.
The focus of the new measure is to restrict the takeover of
primary farmland and to enhance the approval procedure before
soliciting land, Pan noted.
For projects that need provincial ratification or approval, land
administrative departments are required to collaborate with
development and reform authorities to draft explanations, said the
document.
According to the country's Land Administration Law, three kinds
of construction projects must be approved by the State Council
before soliciting land: If it occupies primary farmland; if it uses
arable farmland (not primary farmland) of more than 35 hectares, or
if it uses other kinds of land surpassing 70 hectares.
In addition, approval from local authorities is needed on
projects that could occupy primary farmland, said the ministry
notice.
(China Daily September 27, 2006)