Clean up act
The environment ministry of China recently ordered the cleanup of 20 chemical and petrochemical units that a study found were a threat to the country's waterways and environment due to poor planning and a lack of waste-treatment facilities.
The State Environmental Protection Administration (sepa) said that 12 of the 20 projects inspected were located along China's two main rivers, the Hwang-ho and Yangtze, and had "serious hidden dangers.
The projects included oil refining, ethylene and methanol factories, involving us $7.6 billion in investments. The government also ordered the plants to take immediate action and has allocated us $202 million to fund improvements.
sepa inspected more than 100 sites, which was prompted by an explosion at a chemical plant in November 2005 that poured benzene compounds into the Songhua river, poisoning the source of drinking water for millions.
sepa also decided to stop or postpone approval for projects at 44 sites (valued at us $18.7 billion) because their locations were considered unsafe.
Related Content
- Affidavit by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board regarding dumping of garbage in and around Mahim railway station tracks, Maharashtra, 12/12/2024
- Reply by the BMC regarding pollution by PNG cemetery at Borivali, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 11/12/2024
- Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding heavy air pollution in Wagholi area of Pune, Maharashtra, 03/12/2024
- Report of Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee regarding steps taken to arrest pollution of waterbodies in Bhaderwah, Jammu & Kashmir, 30/11/2024
- Inspection report of the joint committee on Nabinagar Super Thermal Power Station and Bhartiya Rail Bijlee Company, Nabinagar, Aurangabad, 26/11/2024
- Judgment of the National Green Tribunal regarding sewage discharge into storm water drains which meet river Yamuna, 21/11/2024