Heavy fines included in draft law to protect nation's soil

A draft law announced on Thursday promises funds and a basket of comprehensive measures to reduce soil pollution, including heavy punishments to farmland polluters.

China faces a grim situation in terms of soil conditions, said Luo Qingquan, deputy head of the National People's Congress' Environment and Resources Protection Committee.

A 2014 survey released by the ministries of environmental protection and land and resources showed 16.1 percent of surveyed spots were found to be polluted.