Arable land 'must not be misused'

The Ministry of Land and Resources will do all it can to ensure the government's 4-trillion-yuan ($580 billion) stimulus package does not lead to misuse of the country's dwindling land banks, a senior official said yesterday.

Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing, Vice-Minister Lu Xinshe said land and use conditions are already closely monitored and managed in real-time via satellite, on-site inspections and the Internet.

Anyone, local leaders in particular, found violating them will be severely punished, he said.