Legislators Call for Water ProtectionChina has to prevent soil erosion and water loss, which are the worst environmental problems plaguing over one-third of the nation's territories and occur during the development of the western regions.This was the consensus reached yesterday by a group of senior legislators attending a symposium to mark the ninth anniversary of the enforcement of China's Law on Water and Soil Conservation in the Great Hall of the People. "Localities and their leading officials must be fully aware of the vital importance of environmental protection and the increasing extent of water loss and soil erosion throughout China," said Buhe, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress. Today, the government is implementing an ambitious scheme to exploit western China, which will put more pressures on the fragile ecology and in particular, on the conservation of water and soil with ever increasing number of massive constructions in the western region, according to Buhe. Although the government has called for an intensified concentration on 1991's erosion control law, new water and soil losses are expected. Government at all levels should be made aware that "a style of development which improves the economy but sacrifices the environment is inappropriate. The country must follow a path that allows for economic, ecological and social results simultaneously. This is the only way to properly realize sustained growth," Buhe said. Buhe and other senior officials made it clear that "erosion control offices should have been established in line with law." Yang Zhenhuai, vice-chairperson of NPC's Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, urged the local governments of western regions to pay special attention to the protection of their water and soil resources, especially during the construction of roads, railways, in mines, on oil and gas fields and during rapid urbanization. One of the major issues facing China's environmentalists is that some local authorities ignore the Law on Soil and Water Conservation. |
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