Beijing Gives Stench Subsidy

(Beijing, China) Residents of Beijing are authorized by the city's People's Congress to receive a stench subsidy if it stinks where they live.

Only a few years ago, Gao'antun was still a farming village in the east part of Beijing's Chaoyang District. Like many other villages on the expending [sic] edges of the fast growing city, high-rise apartment buildings began to shoot up in Gao'antun in recent years.

Along with the buildings came the city's new affluent class, able afford 15,000 yuan ($2,193) per square metre apartment prices and unlikely to welcome a stinking landfill.

According to The Beijing News, local villagers receive a 400 yuan ($58.49) per year per capita subsidy from the government for the stench that they have to suffer.

For some reason, the local government has ignored requests to move the landfill.

Something will likely have to be done soon since the incidence of serious disease has increased in the area and it's being blamed on the garbage dump.

Also: The Jawa Report