A chemical disposal initiative in a pharmaceutical plant finally
came to an end on Thursday as a result of successive protests by
local farmers.
Farmers protested against the disposal facility saying that the
chemical waste would ruin both their crops and health.
The Jingxin Pharmaceutical plant between Xinchang County and
Shengzhou City, under the administration of Shaoxing City, in
east China's Zhejiang
Province has been blamed for releasing polluted water into the
Xinchang River, polluting the environment and affecting the
production and health of locals.
Zhang Miaohuan, head of the committee of Huangniqiao Village, a
severely polluted area in Shengzhou, said about 50 villagers
marched to the plant on July 4, demanding compensation for ruined
crops and free medical check-ups. Local government officials rushed
to the scene when tensions between angry farmers and plant
representatives escalated, Zhang added.
After the July 4 incident, the local Xinchang County government
promptly ordered the plant to suspend its production until the
dispute had been properly settled.
The local authorities then decided to dispose some 1,000 tons of
chemicals between July 15 and 22 that were already in the plant and
were growing dangerously unstable in the summer heat. The
neighboring farmers were formally informed of the disposal.
More than 200 villagers again protested last Friday morning when
the disposal process was started up. They tried to storm the
disposal facility and some agitated farmers threw stones at police
guarding the plant.
More than 200 villagers clashed with police at a sentry post
near the plant on Sunday evening, drawing thousands of onlookers.
Police, with reinforcements, eventually managed to control the
situation by using tear gas.
No new protest or clash has been reported so far.
Senior officials from Shaoxing met with locals to explain why
the dangerous chemicals had to be disposed of in their "backyards".
The meeting seemed to ease tensions somewhat, and the chemical
disposal process was completed at 7:30 AM on Thursday.
The pharmaceutical industry used to be the pillar industry for
Xinchang's economic development. Some pharmaceutical companies are
built next to the Xinchang River, into which chemical waste is
conveniently dumped.
Water quality of the river has deteriorated and this has angered
locals, especially the Shengzhou people who live in the lower
reaches of the river.
A manager with Jingxin, speaking on condition of anonymity, said
this summer's scorching temperature and slowing currents have made
pollution a more striking problem.
The county authority acknowledged that the Xinchang River is
severely polluted and has committed itself to tackling the problem
by adopting several measures, including the removal of three
chemical plants.
Jingxin is on the list.
Cai Yongbo, deputy secretary of the Xinchang County Party
committee, said: "Reform in industrial structure cannot be
accomplished in a single action. We are in dire need of the
understanding and support of the general public in this long-term
initiative."
In August 2004, the Xinchang and Shengzhou authorities jointly
launched a program to build a sewage treatment plant, which is
expected to be put into operation by the end of next year and, it
is hoped, would improve the water quality in the Xinchang
River.
(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2005)