Beijing criticises province for ignoring eco crackdown on tycoon’s golf courses
Jilin’s claim project had been halted ‘did not match the facts’
China’s environment ministry has hit out at a northeastern province for turning a blind eye to two luxury golf courses operated by one of the country’s richest men, as mainland developers increasingly get caught up in Beijing’s environmental protection campaign.
The two golf courses in Jilin province, developed and operated by billionaire Wang Jianlin’s Dalian Wanda Group, were ordered to shut down in September, when ministry officials from Beijing were conducting a one-month inspection of the province.
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In a report on the inspection released on Wednesday, the ministry said Jilin’s provincial government had allowed the golf courses, at Wanda’s Changbaishan International Resort, to operate in breach of regulations since 2011.
“Jilin not only failed to correct and clean up the golf project as required, but also told related state departments that the project was already halted with its facilities dismantled,” the report said. “[What it said] obviously did not match the facts.”
A total of 93 villas had also been built at the resort and operated in violation of regulations, the report said, without naming Wanda.
The 23 billion yuan (US$3.5 billion) resort occupies 21 sq km, according to the Wanda’s website.