More Money Spent on Demolition than on Construction

"Cultural Landscape Corridor" in Hekou, Yunan

Hekou, Yunnan Province

A small border county in Yunnan Invested 270 million yuan to build a “Cultural Landscape Corridor”,three years ago, however, it needs to be demolished this year at a cost of 300 million yuan.
 
The spokesman of the local government explained to the media: 

In 2009, the local government was eager to change the messy situation along the riverfront area and started to attract investments for the project without thorough research, consulting and planning.

During the process of construction, the project which should combine commerce, culture, tourism together turns out to be an exactly commercial area with lots of restaurants, bars, trading companies, travel agencies and furniture shops, affecting the landscape and the sanitation along the river. That’s why a lot of local residents are complaining about it.

The local government will demolish the shops and develop an urban public space and platform based on the idea of “give the river and landscape back to people”.

The total budget for demolition and compensation is around 300 million. Apart from the subsidy from the provincial and state governments, Hekou local government has to bear 200 million which is 20 million more than the local government’s total revenue.


News Resource: 1; 2

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