Officials from Ministry of Construction (MOC) briefed media on
its efforts in the prevention and control of water pollution in the
country's key river valleys, and urban sewage disposal at a press
conference held by the State Council Information Office on
Tuesday.
According to the country's 10th Five-year (2001-2005) Plan on
Prevention and Control of Water Pollution in China's Key River
Valleys and Urban Sewage Disposal, which was approved by the State
Council, the MOC is responsible for enhancing instruction and
supervision on urban sewage and trash disposal.
The MOC has set up a leadership group and office, and has
organized experts to conduct research and investigations into the
issue. It has also given reform suggestions on key rivers and water
projects including Huaihe River, Taihu Lake, Haihe River, Three
Gorges Reservoir and South-to-North Water Diversion Project.
According to the MOC, there are currently 907 sewage disposal
projects in 10 key river valleys, with a designed disposal capacity
of 48 million tons per day. By the end of March this year, 22
percent of them had been completed, 22 percent are still under
construction, and 26 percent are at the initial preparation
stage.
Huaihe River valley
There are 161 urban sewage disposal projects along the Huaihe
River with a general disposal capacity of 6.14 million tons per
day. About 31 percent have already been completed, 31 percent are
under construction, and preparations are underway for the remaining
38 percent.
Three Gorges Reservoir
A total of 77 sewage treatment plants with a general daily
disposal capacity of 4.24 million cubic meters were planned for the
Three Gorges Reservoir, of which 16 plants have been completed with
a general daily capacity of 425,000 cubic meters, and 17 are under
construction with a daily capacity of 1.30 million cubic
meters.
The basic sewage and trash disposal facilities in the Three
Gorges Reservoir are weak. Moreover, professional personnel and
technologies in operations and management are lacking. In order to
enhance the management standards of pollution control and
effectively use investment and current facilities, the MOC held a
special meeting to design better solutions.
South-to-North Water Diversion Project
Along the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, 102 sewage
treatment plants were planned, with a general daily capacity of
4.68 million cubic meters, of which 22 have been completed and
already put into operation, disposing an average of 1.13 million
cubic meters each day. Another 32 are under construction, with a
daily disposal capacity of 1.54 million cubic meters. The plants
already in operation have played an important role in improving the
local environment, and those that will come into operation in the
near future are expected to improve the situation still
further.
(China.org.cn by Wang Qian and Zhang Tingting, June 8,
2005)
