CRI听力:Compensation for Rural Land Expropriation to Rise By Tenfold

According to a draft amendment to the land management law approved by an executive meeting of the State Council recently, the Chinese government may substantially increase compensation for the expropriation of rural collective land.

Although there is no official news about the content of the revised items, experts speculate that the revisions are mainly about raising the compensation rates by tenfold.

The current land law says compensation for rural collective land expropriation and relocation should be no more than 30 times the average annual output of the land three years before it is seized – which usually means less than 100 yuan per square meter. However, local governments can often sell the expropriated land to real estate developers for 10,000 yuan per square meter. The low compensation has caused disputes, with many households refusing to move.

Taihu village in far east Beijing's Tongzhou District started an expropriation and relocation project in 2007. With a compensation of 1,000 yuan per square, 90 percent of its villagers have moved out, but more than 80 households still remain due to differences regarding compensation. A villager who asked not to be named, talks about his situation.

"Even today they will give us only 2,000 yuan per square meter. The money is not enough, we cannot move on those terms. My house site has an area of around 300 square meters. I'll never move out if they offer less than 2 million yuan."

Villagers are now hoping the amendment will take effect as soon as possible.

"The new amendment is a good deal for us. However, we hope we won't be taxed more than 20 percent. "

Experts say that 70 to 80 percent of rural collective land expropriated is put on the market for commercial residential building projects. Cai Jiming, a social science professor at Tsinghua University, says market will help further increase rural residents' benefits.

"The price of the land will be settled according to market conditions. This will guarantee that rural residents can enjoy the appreciation of land values."

However, some worry that the increased compensation will raise property prices in the future. Property expert Hu Jinghui says it's a needless worry.

"The removal cost of old city areas is far higher than rural areas. If the amendment goes ahead, it will be easier for land developers to find land in rural areas. That means a drop in cost for developers and lower prices for consumers."

Vice President of China Real Estate and Housing Research Association, Hu Zhigang says the financial contribution for the increased compensation should be shared by developers and government and village administrative bodies alike.

"Local government and village administrative bodies should take less of the profits, and then the developers should pay more to make sure there is an increase in compensation for rural residents. Only when that happens will the stability of future property prices be guaranteed."

For CRI, I'm Wang Wei.