Projects for Prevention & Treatment of Pollution in Three Gorges Formally Launched

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 30, 2001

Projects for Prevention & Treatment of Pollution in Three Gorges Formally Launched

The State Council approved this week a 10-year programme designed to reduce water pollution in the Three Gorges area and its upper reaches areas. A budget of 39.22 billion yuan (US$4.7 billion) is planned for the project, according to sources with the State Environmental Protection Administration.

As learned from the State Environment Protection Administration, the "2001 - 2010 Program for Prevention and Treatment of Water Pollution in Three Gorges Reservoir Area & Upper Reaches" compiled with the administration in the lead has recently been approved by the State Council.

This signals the formal setoff of the projects for prevention and treatment of water pollution in the Three Gorges along the Yangtze River. In the coming 10 years, an investment of RMB 39.22 Billion-yuan will be injected by the State for a comprehensive prevention and treatment so that the year 2010 will see the surface water quality in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area and its upper reaches to basically reach Grade 2 criteria as set by the state.

The "Program" covers the mainstream of the Yangtze extending from Yibin to Yichang and the Minjiang River, including the confluence area of the four tributaries of Tuo River, Golden Sand River, Jialing River and Wujiang River. The whole area totals 790,000 square kilometers, which are divided into three sub-areas of the reservoir area, the affected area and the upper reaches.

As set in the "Program" up to 2005, the goal for gross control of such polluted materials as the COD reduction should be up to 329.000 tons, a reduction rate of 24.3 percent, and amino-nitrogen decreased by 31000 tons, a rate of 27.2 percent. And further to 2010 the COD deduction will be 427,000 tons, a rate of 31.5 percent while that of amino-nitrogen 43,000 tons, a rate of 37.7 percent.

By the year 2010, it is required to put up 151 sewage treatment plants in the cities of the reservoir area, 113 facilities for sewage treatment along the riverside cities, making the sewage treatment ratio to reach 95, 85 and 70 percent respectively.

By the year 2010, 171 grounds for life-garbage disposal must be completed in the cities of the reservoir area and for the garbage treatment plants in the towns and markets along the river, the daily disposal amount has to reach 1,230 tons so as to make the rate of garbage non-harmful treatment in the reservoir area, the affected area and the upper reaches to reach 98, 90 and 80 percent respectively.

In the protection and treatment of industrial pollution, by the year 2005 it is required to deduct 30 and 20 percent respectively in the reservoir area and the affected area by way of closing up the industries of heavy pollution and imposing measures for clean production.

The focal point for the protection of biological environment is laid on the control of water and soil erosion, reducing the silt of sand and soil in the reservoir. The arable land and slopes with a declination of 25 degrees in the reservoir area and the affected area must all be returned to forests or grasslands, setting up biological protective belts along shore sides with all other activities that damage the protection absolutely prohibited. Engineering measures will be adopted to enforce a constrained protection against the soil and water erosion at the key spots of the upper reaches.

In the approval of the "Program" the State Council pointed out that the major responsibility in the prevention and treatment of pollution in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area and its upper reaches is laid on the five provincial and municipal people's governments.

The departments concerned of the State Council will give directives and supports according to their functioning division of work. The projects as included in the "Program" will be carried out under the guidance of the Leading Group for Protection and Treatment of Water Pollution in Three Gorges Reservoir formed with the State Environment Protection Administration taking the lead.

By PD Online Staff Han Ronliang

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