Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, April 15, 2002
China Builds Clean, Green Qinghai-Tibet Railway
Construction of the world's highest railway is now under way in an environmen-friendly manner with a focus on keeping it green, said Chinese officials.
The world's highest railway is being built in an environment-friendly way with a focus on keeping it green, according to Chinese officials.
No recorded cases of pollution
Dong Jun, an official in charge of environmental protection of the Tibet section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway construction, said there had been no recorded cases of pollution during the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, half of which will be laid on permafrost.
Rubbish & waste water
"We have trained workers to build up ecological protection awareness before they take up their posts," he said.
During the construction, workers were ordered to collect, classify and recycle rubbish, rather than burn it.
In addition, waste water from the construction work was channeled and separated from oil and other contaminants before being discharged.
Construction equipment
The construction equipment was carefully selected, with cheaper but more polluting machines being rejected.
Vegetation protection
Vegetation protection was another key point. Staff took photos of the landscape before laying the railway to guarantee that all the vegetation which was to be pulled out for the construction would be replanted along the railway as it was.
New vegetation would be planted in those areas which were not originally rich in flora.
Dong said 18 million yuan was being spent in extensive planting around the Yangpachan area which was bare.
About Qinghai-Tibet Railway
The 1,118-kilometer (650-mile) railway, the first linking Tibet with the western China, will extend from Lhasa to Golmud and will be the longest and highest highland railway in the world.
More than 960 kilometers, or four fifths of the railway, will be built at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters (13,120 feet).
Route of Qinghai-Tibet Railway
The route of the Qinghai-Tibet railway has been confirmed following the completion of a survey by the State Railway Ministry. The railway, which is seen as marking the further integration of Tibet into China, will extend from Golmud in Qinghai to Lhasa, passing through Nagchu, Damshung county and Yangbajing county.
It will be 1,110 km in length, including 30.6 km of tunnels, according to the survey, the findings of which were announced on the Tibet People's Broadcasting station on 3 December. The Qinghai authorities are pushing for construction work on the railway to begin as soon as possible, arguing that it is essential for economic development and "stability and security" in the region.