BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Land and Resources announced Thursday illegal buildings totaling 14.31 million square meters in floor space were demolished in an effort to crackdown on illegal use of land by local governments and enterprises.

In the crackdown, the ministry also took control of buildings totaling 34.15 million square meters in floor space, and retrieved 43,000 mu of land, 37 percent of which is farm land, said Li Jianqin, an official from the ministry who is charge of enforcing laws and regulations on land use.

Li said violations of land-use laws and regulations were widespread, especially those by local governments.

According to him, a total of 2,582 people involved in such violations were handed over to judicial and disciplinary authorities in 2010, with 239 people prosecuted for criminal offenses.