A central government work group leaves Beijing Friday for the northeastern Harbin city to investigate into the pollution of the Songhua River, now officially categorized as a "major water pollution incident."

The presence of disciplinary officials in the team indicates punishments of irresponsible acts are on the way.

The incident, caused by the November 13 blast of a chemical plant near the river, has stunned the whole nation. It has been horrible for more than 3 million people of Harbin to be bereft of water for four days.

Chinese leaders have sent strong messages in the past few days, ordering the relevant departments to ensure the safety of drinking water, closely follow the pollution situation and provide accurate information.

On Wednesday, the State Council set targets of combating environmental degradation for the next 15 years. By 2020, China's environmental quality and ecological status should be improved remarkably, according to the plan.

At a press conference Thursday, a senior environmental official said the government will adopt more rigorous measures to reduce the overall discharge of pollutants into rivers and lakes in the next five years.

"During the coming five years, the State Environmental Protection Administration will ban all sewage outfalls in water source protection zones to guarantee the safety of drinking water for the people," he said.

The media in China have given blanket coverage to developments of the pollution upon eager requests from the public. The incident has stimulated widespread reflection about China's environmental conditions. The popularity of the issue is evident from voluminous postings on Internet bulletin boards.

Environmental awareness in China, which is rising as fast as the country's wealth, has received a boost from the incident.

Following the incident, east China's Shanghai revealed Thursday it is drafting environmental standards for district leaders. Compliance with the standards will influence the promotion or demotion of cadres.

On the same day, 19 provinces jointly submitted a suggestion to the State Council on enhancing the ecological protection of inland lakes and instituting a mechanism that takes environmental conditions into account when evaluating regional development, dubbed the "Green GDP" evaluation system.

The system has long been touted as an effective measure to concretely advance environmental protection.

The general public obviously has also becomes more aware of the preciousness of a sound environmental situation from the Songhua River incident.

"Though the water supply cutoff has caused much difficulties and inconvenience, it is also a good opportunity for us," said Zhou Yajuan, a female school teacher in Harbin. "It is a perfect example for us to teach our kids about the need to save and care for our water resources."

The current event is set to become a catalyst for fundamental change. Now that China has learned and matured from the SARS experience, it is also likely to take a big stride forward after the Songhua River pollution incident.

Conditions for the change are all there. It needs only a little more push, followed by focused and well-organized efforts.

World environmental protection equipment manufacturers should keep an eye out for that.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2005)