UPI - Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Date: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 7:12:01 AM EST
BEIJING, March 17 (UPI) -- The growing use of cars in China is contributing to pollution, energy shortages, loss of arable land and serious traffic congestion, Xinhua reports.
Cities are spilling onto farmland as roads and parking lots displace buildings to accommodate the rapid increase in motor vehicles.
The Ministry of Communications reported China had 29,800 kilometers (18,500 miles) of highway by the end of last year, second only to the United States. The ministry said each kilometer required 1,000 tons of bitumen, 400 tons of cement and steel and large amounts of sandstone.
Motor vehicles account for a third of the country's total petroleum consumption, the official Xinhua news agency said. China will rely more on foreign oil imports as the country's consumption already exceeds its production.
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