The Ministry of Land and Resources released statistics Thursday showing it shelled out a total of 82.8 million yuan (US$ 9.98 million) since 1999 on a survey in 414 counties of hidden geological hazards, which include landslides set off by rainfall.

Meanwhile, another 18 counties are conducting similar programs at their own expense.

To date, a survey on a 659,000-sq-km area revealed a disaster-prone region of 350,000 sq km with some 21,495 dangerous spots.

Jiang Jianjun, director of the ministry's Department of Geological Environment, said the program is designed to make a thorough examination of the country's hidden geological hazards to help local governments at various levels establish a more effective emergency rescue scheme.

Currently, landslides, dilapidation and mud-rock flow have become the country's fiercest killer as around 60 percent of the country's annual death toll from natural calamities is related to them.

This year, mountain hazards triggered by heavy rainfall inflicted severe losses in Foping County of Shaanxi Province, Chenzhou City in Hunan Province and Zhaotong City in Yunnan Province.

"A swelling and more dense population have made humankind increasingly vulnerable to the natural earth movement which causes these disasters," said Jiang. "The dangers brought by the clash between economic development and environmental security are escalating."

People's ignorance results in many residential houses and public facilities being built on lands prone to natural geological disasters, but the knowledge gained from the ongoing survey can help new construction projects and township development areas be built on safe ground.

However, restricted by a financial shortfall, the ministry can only carry out the survey in regions most prone to disasters and poverty-stricken areas such as Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou , Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui and Zhejiang.

According to the ministry, investigation teams are mainly made up of geological technicians who not only survey the land but also visit every village and keep villagers informed of their current situation.

To date, a growing number of farmers have volunteered to be part-time monitors on the investigation team.

Relying on their efforts, a total of 460 geologic disasters have been successfully prevented since 1998, avoiding an estimated economic loss of more than one billion yuan (US$120.5 million) and casualties of 20,000.

Earlier this year, nine counties of the Ili Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were struck by landslides, dilapidation and mud-rock flow.

Of the 196 places hit by the natural geological phenomena, over160 have already been put under monitoring and control as danger spots.

Thanks to timely evacuation, an economic loss of 20 million yuan (US$2.41 million) and casualties of 1,000 were spared in these regions.

China has launched a number of projects, besides evacuation and relocation, to treat the massive geological hazards, putting some 4 billion yuan (US$482 million) into the Three Gorges area alone.

Given each province averages 100 construction projects a year, the ministries of land and resources and construction jointly mapped out a system to appraise land security before construction projects begin.

According to them, the measure has effectively avoided the increase of new hazards.

To standardize the rights and obligations of relevant departments and every citizen, the Ministry of Land and Resources is now drafting a regulation on the management of geological disasters.

"Once approved by the State Council, the investigation and prevention work will be further pushed ahead," Jiang Jianjun said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2002)