BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Forestry authorities say they won't fine or punish the superstitious owner of a decorating company who ordered the side of a mountain spray painted a garish green in a southwestern Chinese village.

The story of the green-painted mountain first came to light on February 13, sparking public condemnation. Many people blamed the forestry bureau of Fumin county in southwest Yunnan Province for wasting public money on the "face-saving project".

It turns out that decorator Du Mucheng spent more than 10,000 yuan to paint the mountainside quarry to adjust the 'feng shui' of his surroundings.

Du admitted he ordered the mountain painted last July in the belief that his fortunes would improve if he was able to change the area's feng shui.

Du said he considered the silence of local forestry bureau as consent for his project.

The mountain, with a good chunk of it removed during quarrying, towers over the town. More than 1,000 square meters of the mountain face are now a not-quite natural green and stands in stark contrast to the brownish countryside.

Sources with the local government told Xinhua they won't fine Du nor do they plan to whitewash the mountain.

The local environmental protection bureau said the 1.2 tons of paint has not affected the health of villagers' health or the environment.