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Major waterways risk pollution
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-04-06 11:01
China's major waterways are facing serious pollution risks due to poor
planning and location of chemical projects and a lack of proper waste treatment,
a senior government official said Wednesday.
After a chemical plant
discharged toxic pollutants into the northeastern Songhua River last year, the
State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) launched a comprehensive
review of chemical and petrochemical projects near major water areas.
The results revealed high pollution risks due to the improper location of
chemical plants, said Pan Yue, SEPA deputy dairector.
"These
environmental risks cannot be solved within a short time, as the cost of
relocation of the projects is too high," said Pan.
China's environmental
protection departments inspected 127 chemical and petrochemical projects near
major waterways.
They found 20 large projects with serious environmental
safety problems, said Pan, adding that the projects, with a total investment of
60.57 billion yuan, included 11 along the Yangtze River, one on the Yellow River
and two at the Daya Bay, involving the sectors of oil refining, ethylene and
methanol.
The administration has ordered those in charge of the projects
to take immediate measures to address the problems.
An additional 1.62
billion yuan has been allocated for environmental safety facilities for the 20
projects.
But pre-construction environmental evaluation and protection
measures were needed to avoid future industrial pollution risks, said Pan.
Seventy-six water pollution accidents have been reported in China since the
Songhua River accident, exceeding the total last year.
The SEPA has
suspended approval of 44 projects, with a total investment of 149.47 billion
yuan, because of their location.
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