The state government unveiled a package of land management measures yesterday to strengthen macroeconomic control and cool the economy.

Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said the measures will help the country intensify its efforts to stamp out illegal land use.

A nationwide campaign will be launched to punish officials who approve illegal construction and industrial projects and transfer land use rights at a low price.

China's economy grew 10.9 percent in the first half of the year, largely driven by the excessive use of land for industrial projects and an overabundance of loans.

China's leaders have warned of a possible real estate bubble and have called for the tightening of land management and bank loans in the second half of the year to rein in economic growth.

Zeng said taxes and other charges will be increased for new land earmarked for construction.

Previously controlled by local land departments, land transfer revenues will now become part of the local government's budget.

The central government will also hold provincial-level government officials responsible for farmland protection within their jurisdictions, Zeng said.

Also yesterday, China announced plans to launch its second national land survey before 2010 to get a better handle on its resources and guide future planning. The survey will collect details about land use in all cities and counties and 95 percent of the villages in China, said Fan Zhiquan, director of the Land and Resources Ministry's land ownership department.

A national database will be established after all the data are collated. Fan said the detailed information will help the government improve its understanding of the current land use situation and map out effective policies to tighten land and resources management.

Editor: Yan