Local civil affairs departments will no longer be allowed to forcibly remove tombs that are not built according to regulations and are not moved by the families as requested. This came shortly after 26 scholars jointly called for Henan Province to stop destroying tombs.
According to a new law amendment, local civil affairs authorities will no longer have the power to forcibly destroy such tombs. It was stipulated that civil affairs departments should issue directives to correct improperly buried remains so that they can be cremated or buried in appropriate cemeteries.
This amendment will come into effect from the beginning of 2013.
A Nandu Daily report said that fixing improper burials or tombs was an important part of the work of civil affairs departments, which usually remove tombs that are not moved upon demand.
It was reported that several cities in Henan Province started removing tombs and converting graveyards into farmland from the beginning of this year.
Among those cities, Zhou-kou has removed over 2 million tombs and reclaimed around 2,000 hectares of farmland, accounting only for 0.2 percent of the city's land, according to people who oppose Henan's Campaign.
Landmark building should respect the public's feeling
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