THE past half year saw the land reclamation by residents of nearly 3,000 square meters of fish ponds near Shenzhen Waterlands Resort in Shajing, Bao’an District.
The Waterlands Resort management said the action was probably driven by hopes among local residents that they might receive more compensation from the government when a wetland park begins construction.
Local residents have rushed to fill the ponds and erect buildings in the past half year, said a resident who asked to remain anonymous.
The reclaimed land was part of the wetland park program, which had been drafted by the environmental protection authority of Bao’an and submitted to the city planning authority for approval, according to the Bao’an authority.
The authority said the program was aimed at protecting coastal wetlands and co-development of the fishing and coastal tour industries.
It added that farmers have been digging ponds in the tidelands around Shajing for 200 years, and that this tradition has formed a vast area of costal wetland.
Staff with the Waterlands Resort said the filling-in of the fish ponds would cause irreversible damage to the wetlands.
Shenzhen Waterlands Resort and Bao’an environmental protection authority said they had consulted the local community on the issue on a number of occasions, but the consultation had borne no fruit. (Li Hao)