Officials punished for violating frugality rules

Seven officials from the Ministry of Land and Resources have been punished for violating frugality rules amid an anti-graft campaign.

The officials were found guilty of sightseeing on public expenses, paying extra subsidies to workers and changing the route of overseas business trips without approval, according to a report released on Thursday on the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the country’s top anti-graft watchdog.

Of the officials found guilty, three were removed from their posts and four received warnings, the report said.

In an effort to get closer to the public, the ministry has urged local government bodies to pay more than 18.8 billion yuan ($3 billion) of delayed compensation funds to farmers for land that was seized last year, the report said.

Jiang Daming, the minister of land and resources, said the ministry closely watch cases involving land and mineral resources, and those who violate the rules will be punished strictly, according to the commission’s website.