Demolitions can bring down grander edifice
The Ministry of Land and Resources released an emergency notice recently, calling for the strict prevention of forced demolitions and relocations.
Though the new relocation rule came into effect in January this year, incidents of forced relocation having turned violent still have come to light. Such events have regrettably marred China's grand urbanization process.
Large-scale infrastructure projects, distinctive in urbanization, have generated the momentum to take China's economy forward, but have also created confrontations between developers and residents, usually over the huge compensation sums involved.
The examples of "nail households" have attracted quite a number of copycats, further complicating the issue. With no proper arbitration platform to solve these issues, forced demolitions have severely undermined the image and credibility of the government.
Forced relocation cannot be allowed to continue at the present pace, since the troubles it causes could outweigh the economic benefits. There should be more transparent and authoritative compensation standards to regulate these practices while allowing necessary construction to go on.
However, to break this trend, local governments must rethink their infrastructure-driving economy. Over the past 30 years, China has built a fairly solid infrastructure. The highway network has been extended to remote counties. Airports sprout out nationwide though some small airports are left with many facilities lying idle. Many middle-sized cities are now building subways.
In fact, the current infrastructure is capable of meet ing the basic demand of urbanization; the next step is to realize economic growth without repetitive construction at the same level.
This is the key to breaking the reliance on land confiscation, which causes conflicts due to the demolition and relocation at play.
College towns and central business districts, in addition to pseudo-classic types of architecture, are being copied everywhere to stimulate economy, often to only dubious effect.
Shoddy buildings have taken up land, but have not generated profit. Local officials, lured by the incentives to achieve tangible political achievement, seem unable to resist grand yet shallow projects to burnish their careers.
The infrastructure frenzy must be cooled down. The economic growth for the next phase has to stop relying on steel and cement.
Tension over forced relocations will likely be cushioned as demolitions lessen. Stimulating the economy without building something concrete is much more difficult, but there is indeed no other option.
Though the new relocation rule came into effect in January this year, incidents of forced relocation having turned violent still have come to light. Such events have regrettably marred China's grand urbanization process.
Large-scale infrastructure projects, distinctive in urbanization, have generated the momentum to take China's economy forward, but have also created confrontations between developers and residents, usually over the huge compensation sums involved.
The examples of "nail households" have attracted quite a number of copycats, further complicating the issue. With no proper arbitration platform to solve these issues, forced demolitions have severely undermined the image and credibility of the government.
Forced relocation cannot be allowed to continue at the present pace, since the troubles it causes could outweigh the economic benefits. There should be more transparent and authoritative compensation standards to regulate these practices while allowing necessary construction to go on.
However, to break this trend, local governments must rethink their infrastructure-driving economy. Over the past 30 years, China has built a fairly solid infrastructure. The highway network has been extended to remote counties. Airports sprout out nationwide though some small airports are left with many facilities lying idle. Many middle-sized cities are now building subways.
In fact, the current infrastructure is capable of meet ing the basic demand of urbanization; the next step is to realize economic growth without repetitive construction at the same level.
This is the key to breaking the reliance on land confiscation, which causes conflicts due to the demolition and relocation at play.
College towns and central business districts, in addition to pseudo-classic types of architecture, are being copied everywhere to stimulate economy, often to only dubious effect.
Shoddy buildings have taken up land, but have not generated profit. Local officials, lured by the incentives to achieve tangible political achievement, seem unable to resist grand yet shallow projects to burnish their careers.
The infrastructure frenzy must be cooled down. The economic growth for the next phase has to stop relying on steel and cement.
Tension over forced relocations will likely be cushioned as demolitions lessen. Stimulating the economy without building something concrete is much more difficult, but there is indeed no other option.
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