China Launches 'Blue Sea Action Program' to Clean Bohai Sea |
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China launches "Blue Sea Action Program" in the Bohai rim area with the aim to halt discharge of industrial wastes, to monitor environmental pollution and to restore the damaged ecological system. According to the SEPA, at least 55.5 billion yuan (6.7 billion U.S. dollars) in total investment will make the 15-year program the biggest ever effort of China to improve ocean environment.
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China plans to gradually mend the Bohai Sea's ecological system that has been deteriorating due to pollution and irrational exploitation of ocean resources with billions of dollars of investment.
55.5 billion yuan to be invested in the program
State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) announced Thursday in Beijing that the "Blue Sea Action Program" has be launched in the Bohai rim area with the aim to halt discharge of industrial wastes, to monitor environmental pollution and to restore the damaged ecological system in the sea.
According to the SEPA, at least 55.5 billion yuan (6.7 billion U.S. dollars) in total investment will make the 15-year program the biggest ever effort of China to improve ocean environment.
Side effects Produced by Ocean-based economy
The Bohai Sea is off the coast in north China where is one of the country's most populous and developed areas. Fishery, salt production, transportation and oil and gas development have long been pillars of local economy in those areas.
In recent years, governments of Liaoning, Hebei and Shandong provinces and Tianjin Municipality around the rim have set ambitious goals on the development of the ocean-based economy.
However, according to Liu Xiuru, director of the SEPA�s office of maritime environment protection, economic growth has also produced side effects.
Pollution of sea water became more and more serious. Limited by the shape of the Bohai gulf, inflow and outflow of waters run slowly. The poor self-clean ability of the sea results in excessive discharge of pollutants which makes the situation worse.
In addition, biological diversity has been damaged and some ocean resources are on the verge of exhaustion due to rampant fishing activities.
Three-phase action plan drafted to clean the Sea
SEPA, state departments of oceanology, transportation, and agriculture, and local governments around the Bohai rim jointly mapped out the program to clean the Bohai Sea. The State Council has approved the plan and required for full implementation by local governments.
The program will be carried out in three phases in the coming 15 years.
By the year of 2005, enterprises along the Liaohe, Haihe and Yellow rivers, which all end up running into the Bohai gulf, will have to meet the state standards of waste discharge, and a number of waste water disposal centers will be established in cities concerned, she noted.
Discharges of major pollutants, such as nitrogen, phosphor, heavy metals and crude oil, will be cut by 10 to 20 percent in the next five years.
Implementation of the plans for the periods of 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 is expected to further bring about decrease in pollutant discharges, establishment of sustainable ecological system, and eventual improvement of the ocean environment of Bohai.
According to Liu Xiuru, the SEPA and local governments will carry out about 430 projects concerning pollution treatment, reconstruction of ecological environment, and scientific research in the years to 2010.
Sound base built to implement the program
The program has been worked out basing on thorough research and ample consultations by departments of the central authorities and local governments, and current technologies and experience of pollution control. All of these measures taken will provide a sound base for the implementation of the program.
As regards the capital source, the 55.5-billion-yuan investment should be bearable if compared with the financial strength of the region as it accounts for only 0.5 percent of the annual GDP (gross domestic product) of the Bohai rim area, said Liu.
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