Farmers staging a week-long protest have finally won their
battle against a pharmaceutical plant they say is polluting their
area.
The local government has now stepped in to pledge that chemicals
used by the plant, in Xinchang County, Zhejiang
Province, will be disposed of safely.
Local villagers said they support the government's decision to
dispose of dangerous pollutants.
"We trust the government that things will be settled in our
favor," Liang Guorong, a local farmer from Shizuowan Village, said
yesterday. "We finally realize that the government is trying to
help us."
Jingxin Pharmaceutical Plant was forced to shut down on July 4
when farmers protested against the way it disposed of harmful
chemical waste, which they said was causing problems in the nearby
Xinchang River.
The latest outcry last Friday was caused when the plant
reopened, with farmers believing safe disposal measures had still
not been put in place.
Nearly 100 farmers, mainly from Huangniqiao Village, protested
outside and tried to stop it operating. On July 17, more gathered,
and when a police cordon blocked them they went onto a nearby
highway, causing traffic delays.
In fact the plant had reopened because it was "trying to dispose
of dangerous chemicals left on the production line when the plant
was forced to stop on July 4," said Ding Jianping, director of the
Shaoxing Municipal Information Office. "Police were sent to the
spot to prevent local villagers going near to toxic materials.
"Nearly 1,000 tons of pharmaceutical materials that were
inflammable and explosive left in the plant must be dealt with
immediately."
If not treated quickly, these materials could even have fatal
consequences, Ding added.
He did not say what kind of chemicals the plant was trying to
dispose of.
As the protest wore on, teams of officials and experts went
around the village door to door, convincing people the plant was
now safe.
By 7:30 AM yesterday, all toxic pharmaceutical materials had
been disposed of safely, ensuring the safety of neighboring
villagers, Ding added.
(China Daily July 22, 2005)