The State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) is clamping down on
steel producers that are causing serious ecological problems in
Hebei Province's Tangshan region, said Vice Minister Pan Yue on
Monday.
But Pan said that officials who ignore the need for
environmental protection are the main culprits. Prosperity cannot
be built at the cost of the environment and ecology must be a
priority in sustainable development of the regional economy.
Tangshan residents have been complaining about local
pollution.
Working on a tip-off, SEPA dispatched a task force to inspect
several enterprises in the area. Their investigation revealed that
all seven steel companies lacked environmental protection approval
and were built illegally.
None of the factories had facilities to deal with pollutants and
drainage was also a problem. Much of the production equipment used
was out of date and its use prohibited by the state. Some of the
enterprises were expanding their facilities, but not improving
them.
The local steel industry has been booming since 2000.
The failure of local government officials to adhere to or
enforce China's laws on environmental protection is a longstanding
problem. Pursuit of economic growth and local protectionism are
often given priority over environmental protection.
SEPA is demanding that this obsolete mode of industrial
development be abandoned and calling on local governments to take
the lead in pushing a healthy and scientific economic
development.
Pan said that tougher punishment is needed to cure this
persistent disease of pollution. The steel enterprises uncovered
through the investigation are to be shut down and severe financial
penalties imposed to deter illegal behavior.
(China Daily August 24, 2004)