Recently the Tibet Autonomous Region has increased compensation fees from companies and individuals for affecting soil and water conservation in their production and construction projects, aiming to strengthen ecological protection in the region, Xinhua reported.

Tibet is currently collecting compensation fees for soil and water conservation based on the following standard and requirement: there is a one-time levy of 2.5 yuan per square meter for general production and construction projects as well as for the mining project of mineral resources.

For general production and construction projects as well as mining of mineral resources in the construction phase of the project, the company and the individual must make a mandatory one-time payment to compensate for soil and water conservation before the start of the project.

For mining of mineral resources in the mining stage and other production or construction activities, the company and the individual must pay a mandatory fee for soil and water conservation on an annual basis.

Yi Yunfei, director-general of Tibet Soil and Water Conservation Bureau,  said that companies and individuals who violate these regulations will be investigated for legal responsibility, and those suspected of committing crimes will be transferred to judicial agencies.

All soil and water conservation fees levied must be turned over to the State Treasury, which will be channeled into government funds for budgeting and management. These funds will be earmarked and carried forward for use in the next year from the end-of-year balance.

In 2009, Tibet launched a pilot program of setting up the fee collection standards for the first time according to soil and water conservation.

The current amendment has also substantially improved the taxation standards from the original standard, which is expected to raise the awareness of the companies and individuals involved in ecological protection and play an effective role in building China’s important ecological safety barrier.