Li drops in to help realize home dream
Updated: 2013-12-28 00:42
By ZHAO YINAN in Tianjin and XU WEI in Beijing (China Daily)
|
|||||||||||
For Li Zongyi, 77, an unexpected visitor to her home has realized her decades-long dream.
The guest was Premier Li Keqiang. During a one-day trip to Tianjin on Friday, he paid a surprising visit to Li Zongyi's home in the Xiyuzhuang community, one of the oldest shantytowns in the city, and promised residents that they will be able to move into new apartments in the next year.
Han Huixia, Li Zongyi's daughter, said: "I have been waiting for this moment for so long. I dare not burn coal to keep warm in winter, in case there is a gas leak or a fire."
Like families in the Xiyuzhuang community, hundreds of millions of residents in shantytowns nationwide are expected to move into new apartments, analysts said, as the country pushes ahead with renovation projects for these areas.
Huang Xiaohu, a researcher at a consultancy center affiliated to the Ministry of Land and Resources, said the renovation of some shanty areas can be very difficult, due to the complexity of the local population, a lack of financial support, and disagreements among residents on the relocation plan.
The Xiyuzhuang community, covering 64 hectares and with low-income residents comprising 20 percent of its households, is a typical case, Huang said, as the cost of compensation is too high.
"The only way out in this case is to let the government play the dominant role and provide residents with low-cost houses, instead of costly commercial apartments," he said.
A State Council meeting in June pledged to improve housing conditions for the underprivileged and to promote urbanization by accelerating shantytown reform.
Urbanization will also be pushed for another 100 million people living in the country's less developed western areas.
To achieve the target, the government will encourage private capital and enterprises to invest in the shantytown transformation, and will allow local authorities to use corporate bonds to solve the financing problem.
As of 2013, China has solved the housing problems of 2.18 million households living in shantytown areas and embarked on projects that could solve such problems for another 3.23 million households, 6 percent higher than planned.
Tao Ran, a professor at Renmin University of China, said the government has looked to the resettlement of residents in shanty areas to be one of its key economic drives in coming years.
But some fundamental work should be addressed before any steps are taken, he said.
Tao suggested that a universal guideline be introduced for local governments to follow during demolition of homes to avoid misconduct and conflicts.
Contact the writer at zhaoyinan@chinadaily.com.cn
Related Stories
Guizhou to raise urban and rural minimum living standard 2013-12-27 15:08
China's urbanization rate to hit 60% by 2018 2013-12-27 01:18
China expects 13 million new jobs in 2013 2013-12-26 13:41
Urbanization shrinks rural schools 2013-12-25 07:03
Local bonds set for approval 2013-12-24 09:48
Urbanization helps China eliminate poverty 2013-12-23 11:06
Today's Top News
Chinese students in US take the road to luxury
China to take free navigation system global
Country's hepatitis B vaccines are safe: WHO
War shrine visit fury mounts
ODI on track to outstrip FDI
NSA phone program lawful: judge
China reports 12th vaccine-related death
Natural disasters kill 1,181 in China this year
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
The new temples of a twilight age |
Hebei aims for pollution fight |
Door opens on system for official residences |
Restoring a link to their heritage |
Top universities face exams for corruption |
Taking a humane look at cosmetics |