China crackdowns on 'vanity projects'; to ban building of super skyscrapers

In a crackdown against ‘wasteful’ vanity projects countrywide, China has passed a new proposal that bans construction of ‘super high skyscrapers’ or extremely tall buildings unless special approval is sought from Xi Jinping government.

Cities in Beijing with populations less than 3 million were prohibited to construct skyscrapers taller than 150 metres (492.13 ft), and those cities with a population more than that were banned from constructing skyscrapers taller than 250 metres, China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said, according to Guardian newspaper. Chinese regulators are limiting high buildings in order to felicitate energy consumption, and save resources. 

CPC cites energy consumption, safety protocol adherence issue in high rises

In a similar measure in July this year, China’s national development and reform commission, Beijing’s top planning ncy banned construction of a building that might reach a height of more than 500 metres, as reported by Guardian newspaper. ncy warned that high-rises taller than 500 metres will longer attain government’s approval for construction. It furr advised builders to follow a proper government-approved construction plan before laying foundation of new constructions. 

CPC, although, agreed to give exemptions to high rise buildings with excellent firefighting and anti-earthquake capabilities, with due consideration about population of cities where such structures will be located. A joint statement was circulated by China’s ministry of housing and urban-rural development, ministry of emergency manment, a cabinet-level executive department that overlooks emergency manment and safety protocols of infrastructure, anuncing new measure. 

China, which houses world’s second-tallest building, a 128-storey, 632-metre-tall Shanghai Tower, has expressed reluctance about super tall buildings in recent years owing to energy consumption and safety issues surrounding such constructions. This comes after a massive fire reportedly broke out in a 26-floor skyscraper in rrn Chinese city of Shijiazhuang, capital of rth China's Hebei Province that charred insulation material on outside of building. accident caused multiple explosions in building, bringing government’s focus back on adequate safety protocol adherence during construction of tall buildings. Videos circulated on China's Weibo appeared to show struggles of firefighters in towering jets of water to douse fire on  upper floors of tall building.