China earmarks 1.5b yuan for Plateau environment
By Xiao Guo (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-06-12 19:05 The Chinese government is pouring 1.5b yuan (US$
187.5m) into the Qingzang railway, which is connecting China's utmost western
province of Qinghai and Tibet Autonomous Region, in a bid to protect the
vulnerable environment alongside the Qingzang Plateau, reports the Beijing News,
June 11.
Environmental protection has aroused great concern as the Chinese government
faces criticism from overseas media for neglecting the environment as it seeks
high-speed economic development, at an eight per cent average annual growth
rate.
"It's the first time for the Chinese government to pour such a large amount
of money on environmental protection alongside a railway," railway construction
director Huang Difu says.
"The railway construction is monitored by a third party as it proceeds as we
have introduced an environmental inspector," Huang told the Beijing-based
newspaper.
"We have to better carry out environmental protection because we are under
observation by a third party inspector," a head of the construction company
says. He declined to give his name.
Railway construction deputy director, La Youyu, says "as the railway
construction proceeds, we must pay attention to the environment."
"The Tibetan antelopes and the third party inspector are our bosses," some
construction workers commented to the newspaper.
The Qingzang railway is the highest railway in the world with an average
altitude of more than 4,000 meters.
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