Oil-finding explosives buried without villagers' knowledge  

中石油强行勘探农田被埋炸药 村民在地雷上干活

澄迈县桥头镇鼎村村民林先生向商报热线反映，约一个月前，自家的甘蔗地被中石油公司的工作人员砍倒一大片，地里还埋上了炸药，对此，该公司承诺对农户进行赔偿，但一个月过去了，赔偿迟迟没有到位。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- A branch of China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) in South China was accused of destroying local crops and burying explosives in the farmland to find oil, without notifying the villagers beforehand, People's Daily Online reported.

Lin, a villager in Hainan province's Chengmai county, complained to a local newspaper that a large area of sugar cane he planted was cut down by employees from the local branch of CNPC one month ago.

The same thing happened to other villagers, Lin said, adding that none of them had been informed beforehand.

The employees also left small mounds with red flags on top in the farmland. Cables will be found once a mound is removed, a villager said.

Villagers guessed that explosives are buried underground, and they expressed anger and safety concerns.

Li Weitao, from the CNPC branch, admitted they buried explosives, adding that they coordinated with government departments in the city and township beforehand. "It is a pity that the government didn't pass on the information to villagers," he said.

Li said they contacted staffers at the township government to evaluate the damage, and they will give compensation to the villagers.

However, Lin said an explosion caused cracks in the walls of some houses, but the CNPC branch repeatedly delayed a damage evaluation.

Li explained that they are aware of villagers who suffered losses, as it involved many households. The branch will pay compensation after the exploring ends, he added.