Accountability will play a major role in the trial of 26 people held responsible for a fire in Shanghai on Nov 12 that killed 58 people and left 71 injured.

Twenty-eight other people have already received administrative or Party disciplinary punishments. Even the Shanghai Party secretary and the mayor were made to write self-criticism reports to the central government.

Related readings:  Officials take blame for Shanghai high-rise fire  2 officials fired over deadly Shanghai blaze  Shanghai raises the alarm over fire hazards

Given the number of deaths and injuries the fire caused, these people more than deserve the punishment. But the problem is whether it will help prevent similar man-made disasters.

The investigation report points to a series of problems, from manipulation of public bidding to illegal subcontracting of the project to renovate the residential building, which became a high-rise inferno in no time because of the low quality material used in its renovation and chaotic management.

That not a single aspect of the renovation project was problem-free reflects the chaos the realty sector is in. If even a single component of the project functioned as it was supposed to, the fire would not have claimed so many lives. It is apparent that something went wrong with the entire system.

It is common knowledge that construction projects are hotbeds of corruption and collusion between power and money. Almost all corrupt officials exposed had been involved in one way or another in construction projects or with real estate developers. Even the Shanghai mayor conceded that corruption had contributed to the tragedy.

The problems that caused the fire can be found in other buildings, too. Repeated exposure of low quality heating material, which was one of the causes of the Shanghai fire and is used in many parts of the country, could cause similar accidents.

Another major problem the Shanghai fire exposed is the lack of responsibility when it comes to relevant government officials. This in some ways is even more serious than the fire itself. Perhaps a part of the government did not function at all to keep potential problems at bay. Even worse, some officials traded power for illegal gains, which caused a part of the governing machinery to malfunction.

But the punishment handed out to those responsible for the fire alone will not change the entire system.

So the conclusion of the trial should be a prelude to the rectification of the country's construction sector and the working style of government officials, because only when most officials become clean, honest and serious with their work will it possible to prevent a similar accident.

(China Daily 06/11/2011 page5)