Fast-track demolitions leave residents homeless

• Source: Global Times
• [02:32 May 26 2010]
• Comments

Good idea, bad practice

Wang Cailiang, a specialist in demolition regulations in Beijing, told the Global Times that "The intention to promote urbanization is good, but the practice is flawed."

The campaign to promote speedy demolition across the province is also disputable, Wang said.

The "Great Changes in Three Years" program is part of a campaign launched by the Hebei provincial government in 2008 in an effort to speed up urbanization.

All major cities and counties in the province have worked to implement the program since late 2008, according to local media.

The Handan Daily reported in April that 110,000 square meters of property were demolished, 8.8 hectares of land were vacated and more than 1,200 residents were relocated within 13 days in Dongliulin village in Handan county, coining the phrase "Dongliulin speed."

Guangping, a county under the administration of Handan, started a 2-billion-yuan program at the beginning of this year in which 100,000 square meters of houses will be demolished, 10 major roads will be constructed and 1 million square meters of green areas will be created.

Short notice

According to local media, Guangping completed demolition of 330,000 square meters of residences within 10 days starting from March 18, surpassing the quota set by Handan.

A demolition notice was published March 18, the same day demolition started, according to the Guangping government website.

The notice suggested that the county government decided to launch a three-phase demolition program from March 18 because the poor conditions affected the lives of local residents and the city's image.

Zhao Fenghe, director of the Guangping Construction Bureau, told China Central Television Sunday that the government had never signed a demolition or resettlement agreement with residents, part of the reason why the demolition operation could be performed so quickly. He said Guangping is finan-cially capable of carrying out the project.

However, Guangping, with a population of 300,000, is a poverty-stricken county to which the state has given priority in poverty relief. Its annual income is approximately 110 million yuan ($16 million), according to the local government website.

In a recently released notice, the General Office of the State Council urged local governments to publish demolition compensation standards by June and required the relocated residents to be compensated in strict accordance with the standard released by local governments.

The notice also said officials could be removed from their posts for any improper handling of demolition operations.