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China will continue its war against pollution in 2001, especially
in key projects, large cities and main water and sea areas to make
it a good beginning for environmental work in the 10th Five-Year
Plan(2001-05).
Xie Zhenhua, director of the State Environment Protection Administration,
made these remarks Tuesday at a national conference.
Special environmental protection measures will be conducted in four
major projects including the diversion of water from the south to
the north, the bringing of natural gas and electricity from the
west to the east and the building of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway,
according to Xie.
Priority will be given to the south-to-north water diversion project.
The project's purpose is to divert water from the Yangtze River
basin to the dry northern part of the country.
A program for the prevention and alleviation of water pollution
on the project's eastern line will be formulated, said Xie.
A series of projects designed to control contamination in rivers
that will contribute water to the north will be carried out.
Strict and efficient supervision of nuclear power plants will also
be strengthened to ensure safety, according to the official.
The administration also stressed the improvement of urban environmental
management. Water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution and
waste accumulation in cities will be brought under control.
Acceleration of the improvement of Beijing's environment will be
one of this year's major tasks.
In rural areas, measures will be taken to stop pollution caused
by the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, livestock breeding
and garbage.
The environmental administration, along with the State Economic
and Trade Commission, will distribute a list of obsolete technologies
that cause pollution, which will be gradually phased out in the
coming years.
Environmental projects will be started in major water areas including
the Three Gorges reservoir area and the upper reaches of the Yangtze
River. The administration will conduct special inspections on environmental
protection in the Three Gorges reservoir region this year.
A series of new laws and regulations on environmental protection
are also planned for this year.
Daily reporting of environmental quality will be perfected and environmental
forecasts will be instituted in some cities.
An environmental information network across the country and a public
information centre on environment protection will be established
this year, according to Xie.
China will take a more active part in global environmental protection
and get more involved in international co-operation, according to
the ministry.
During the Ninth Five-Year Plan (1996-2000), the trend towards worsening
environment contamination was basically brought under control. The
environmental quality in some cities and regions has been distinctly
improved, according to the conference.
(China Daily 01/09/01)
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