"Preamble"
In April 2024, an incident of social concern caused by a dispute over land contracting fees occurred in Kailu County, Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia.
The Zhang brothers contracted 5,600 mu of land at a price of 4 yuan per mu, and years later, the local government demanded an increase in the contract fee, but the Zhang brothers refused to pay, triggering a series of conflicts and discussions.
"What happened"
In 2004, two brothers, Zhang Wenzhu and Zhang Wenlin, contracted 5,600 acres of barren meadows in Kailu County at a price of 4 yuan per mu, and the land was used to build dairy farms and forage planting.
Over time, part of the land was converted into cultivated land, and it was identified as new arable land in subsequent land surveys. In 2024, according to relevant policies, the Kailu County Government will require a paid use fee of 200 yuan per mu per year for new cultivated land.
The Zhang brothers rejected the request, arguing that they had already paid the fees in accordance with the contract and that they should not add additional fees. This move led to the local government taking measures to block spring ploughing, which caused widespread concern and controversy in the society.
In the incident, the identity and background of the Zhang brothers also became the focus of public discussion, and they not only achieved commercial success, but the elder brother Zhang Wenzhu also got involved in politics, becoming a member of the Tongliao CPPCC and a standing committee member of Kailu County.
"Netizen Comments"
"Netizen A (Beijing): 'This incident reflects the problems in land management, and the communication between the government and the contractor is particularly important, hoping for a fair and reasonable solution. ’
Netizen B (Shanghai): 'Although the behavior of the Zhang brothers is understandable, the government's regulations also need to be followed, and the two sides should seek a compromise solution. ’
Netizen C (Guangzhou): 'This incident has aroused my interest in land contracting policy, and it seems that more transparency and fairness are needed to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again. ’”
"Summary"
The dispute over land contract fees between the Zhang brothers in Kailu County highlights the complexity of multiple factors such as land use rights, contract performance, and policy changes.
This incident is not only a test of the local government's management ability, but also a challenge to the protection of the rights and interests of the contractor. How to balance the relationship between historical contracts and current policies to ensure the rights and interests of both parties will be the key to resolving such disputes.