Premier pushes for 6 million shantytown home renovations

Premier Li Keqiang urged the rapid initiation, and acceleration, of a program to rebuild 6 million homes in a national shantytown renovation project this year in a written instruction, which was released on Monday. 

The premier said in the document that shantytown renovation is a major project to improve people’s lives. He added that all regions and governmental departments made enormous efforts last year on shantytown renovation, resulting in a significant improvement in living conditions for poor families in cities.

He said funds should be properly allocated to achieve this year’s goal to revamp 6 million homes in shantytowns. Anyone conducting illegal acts and violations, including embezzling renovation funds, should be investigated and punished, he added. 

The premier also said the quality of new units should be double-checked to ensure people are relocated to better homes while amenities and infrastructure must be put in place. He also said the ratio of monetized resettlement should be increased.

He also urged all regions to come up with new development concepts and carry out their responsibilities by promoting supply-side structural reform.