Developers blamed for historic building demolitions

Chinese buildings of historic value are being threatened by construction projects, many featuring collusion among real estates developers and local governments, heritage protection authorities have warned.

Eighty-one cases of illegal construction in protected areas were recorded in the first half of this year, and most of the violations were by corporations, according to figures released on Thursday by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH).

In one case in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, a real estate company was fined 500,000 yuan (81,660 US dollars) for attempting to reposition a temple dating to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.) out of its project scope in April. The relocation plan was conducted without official approval, though county authorities were aware of it.

Key county officials received warnings and the county government has been charged with overseeing the restoration of the temple. Brick sculptures and frescos that were dismantled are now preserved by the county museum.

In another case in south China's Guangdong Province, a bridge on the county-level heritage protection list was dismantled by a real estate company in May because it obstructed the group's land development project.

Two suspects have been arrested and referred to judicial organs on criminal charges, and the company is financing the restoration of the bridge.

Senior SACH official Liu Mingwei said the administration has been intensifying efforts to spot violations via public tip-offs and satellite monitoring, with a special focus on demolition for real estate purposes and fires.

Liu said the administration will maintain the crackdown and severely punish violators.