Central-south China's Hunan Province is offering rewards to people who report illegal activities in its coal mining industry.

Cash rewards of up to 100,000 yuan (about US$12,500) will be given to people who report on government officials who illegally own shares in coal mines, according to Hunan provincial regulations issued on Sunday. This follows the central government's crackdown on corruption in coal mining, an industry that kills more than 6,000 workers in China every year.

People who report illegal coal mine operations and fraudulent cover-ups of fatal accidents and dangerous operations will rewarded between 1,000 yuan (US$125) and 10,000 yuan (US$1,250).

Coal mine operators have been accused of neglecting the safety of miners and authorities in the Beijing recently ordered that as least one mine manager or owner must go underground with the miners.

The State Council put new regulations into effect in September stipulating that leaders in counties and towns be demoted or removed from their posts if illegal coal mines are found to be operating in their jurisdiction.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2005)