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Russia gets help to tackle river pollution
By Qin Jize (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-12-02 05:44
Jilin authorities slammed for 'poor work'
The environmental authorities of Jilin Province were criticized yesterday for
"poor work" after 100 tons of dangerous chemicals leaked into a river last
month.
The spill was caused by a chemical plant blast on November 13 in Jilin city
of the Northeast China province.
But from November 14 to 17, the State Environmental Protection Administration
(SEPA) did not receive any account of the accident from Jilin, "losing the best
opportunity" to control the pollution caused by benzene and its derivatives,
said Wang Yuqing, vice-minister of the administration.
He criticized Jilin's "poor performance" in collecting and relaying
information to the SEPA.
A reckless pursuit of economic growth and lack of emergency response
mechanisms have seen China experiencing a high rate of environmental disasters,
he said.
"A series of grave environmental accidents have occurred since the beginning
of this year," he told a national teleconference.
By the end of November, 36 major pollution accidents were reported, said
Wang.
"But they do not include those that have not been reported to the SEPA," he
said, adding that "China has entered an era of high incidence of environmental
pollution."
Wang said there are many hazards around the country as some plants are built
on river banks and in residential areas. Accidents in those places might cause
ecological disasters, he warned.
Some regional governments have given tacit consent to the discharge of
pollutants into rivers in the pursuit of economic growth, he said, adding that
some regions have also approved polluting businesses that are banned by the
central government.
He asked local authorities to learn from the Songhua River pollution accident
and immediately check for hidden environmental hazards in their areas.
He urged the regions to make emergency response plans, establish command and
control systems to handle emergencies and publicize methods of preventing such
accidents.
According to the SEPA, only 14 provinces in China have emergency plans in the
event of environmental accidents.
"After the Songhua River pollution, the SEPA activated its preparedness plan
for the first time. The plan proved useful in dispelling panic and controlling
the pollution," said Wang.
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