Authorities get dirty turning new county roads into soybean fields

Land authorities in Suqian, Jiangsu province are still digging up how local officials ordered around 20 newly built roads to be covered in topsoil to grow soybeans.

Sihong county residents found the unpaved roads, built last year and nearly completed, planted with soybeans in early June.

Truck driver Li Wenguo (pseudonym), explained he was ordered to haul the dirt in June.

"The roads were recovered with soil under the guidance of county and township leaders. The soil was transported from construction sites, poured on the roads and bulldozed. The soil is at least half a meter in depth." said Li.

Li explained soybean plants were chosen because they grow relatively fast.

Li Shuang, chief of the Sihong County Land Resources Department, said the State land officials determined the construction of the roads was not legal in April.

Cheng Qing, traffic bureau chief of Sihong county, said most parts of the roads were not up to code and unpaved.