Hainan unveils plan to rectify sea reclamation projects

South China's Hainan province released on Wednesday a detailed rectification plan to improve the approval process for sea reclamation projects and ordered developers of some sea reclamation projects to restore environmental damage they have caused to the island, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The plan set specific restoration deadlines for each sea reclamation project.

It asked the local governments of Haikou, capital city of Hainan, and Wenchang, home to China's only coastal satellite launch center, to propose usage solutions to three sea reclamation projects which have remained undeveloped for years, and to conduct environmental restoration work. The projects were prohibited from engaging in commercial home development, said the plan.

Applicants of projects such as Ocean Flower Island in Danzhou and Ruyi Artificial Island in Haikou, will have to conduct sea-use verifications. And those government officials who were found to have violated the law in those cases will be punished.

The second phase of the Sanya Phoenix Cruise Terminal, Wanning Sun & Moon Island and Haikou Lighthouse Hotel project, which has worsened coastal erosion and silting on the shores, was ordered to carry out environmental impact assessments. The developers were asked to fulfill environmental restoration work as soon as possible.

The document said that the ocean and fishery departments of Haikou, Sanya and Danzhou have failed to conduct adequate investigations in illegal sea reclamation activities in the areas, which have resulted in the illegal expansion of reclamation. Investigations on individual officials will be carried out, and those found to have broken the law will be held accountable.

Hainan will also strengthen patrolling inspections on marine projects and improve the dynamic supervision on marine resources, the plan said.

The rectification plan is regarded as a measure to resolve issues listed in a report released by the State Oceanic Administration following a monthlong inspection in Hainan on December. The report said that several construction projects had violated the law and left "scars" on the environment that would be hard to heal.