Home / Environment / News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Official Warns of Major Algae Outbreak
Adjust font size:

The top environmental official has called for improved measures to protect the country's lakes, warning that a major outbreak of blue-green algae may hit the nation's three major water systems.

 

Addressing a meeting of environmental officials in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, on Thursday, State Environment Protection Administration (SEPA) Minister Zhou Shengxian said that Caohu Lake, Dianchi Lake and the tributaries near the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River, the country's longest, may be hit.

 

Zhou said high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water, which foster outbreaks of algae, remain a major problem for the country's natural lakes, which are disappearing at a rate of 20 a year.

 

SEPA has imposed a number of bans in areas near the Taihu, Chaohu and Dianchi lakes.

 

All projects involving discharges containing ammonia and phosphorus were prohibited in those areas, while the production, use and sale of detergents containing phosphorous was also banned around the lake drainage areas.

 

In addition, all fish farms will be removed from the three lakes by the end of next year.

 

In an interview with People's Daily, Zhou said that the country now has enough "economic strength" to afford to let some areas "recover in peace."

 

"The rapid economic growth of some places is at the cost of the environment," he was quoted as saying.

 

"We may have to sacrifice a little speed in terms of economic development at the first stage of recovery, but what we gain is an improvement of economic and environment quality as well as long-term steady development," he said.

 

Large-scale algae outbreaks hit several major fresh lakes in the country this summer, sparking a new round of concern over the deteriorating quality of the nation's water supplies.

 

Notably, a severe algae bloom in Taihu Lake threatened the safety of drinking water in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, a city with a population of almost 6 million.

 

As a demonstration of his determination, Li Yuanchao, the Party secretary of Jiangsu Province, vowed to radically overhaul the environment of Taihu Lake, even if this impacts local economic growth.

 

Speaking at a State Council meeting on Wednesday, Premier Wen Jiabao warned of the "grim situation" and "huge difficulty" the nation faced in tackling pollution.

 

SEPA has rolled out a host of tough new rules to tackle worsening lake pollution while slamming shortsighted policies that encouraged local officials to turn a blind eye to environmental hazards.

 

Earlier this month, SEPA halted industrial projects in six cities, two counties and five industrial parks in the basins of the Yangtze, Yellow, Huaihe and Haihe rivers, the country's most polluted.

 

(China Daily July 14, 2007)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous

China Archives
Related >>
- Algae Outbreak 'Not Serious'
- Wen: Water Quality a Major Priority
- Weather May Worsen Algae Problem
- 'Mass Incidents' on Rise as Environment Deteriorates
- Water Safety Put Ahead of GDP
- Taihu Lake Overhaul After Algae Outbreak
- Suzhou Algae Outbreak Said to Be Under Control
Most Viewed >>
Air Quality 
Cities Major Pollutant Air Quality Level
Beijing particulate matter II
Shanghai particulate matter III1
Guangzhou sulfur dioxide II
Chongqing particulate matter III2
Xi'an particulate matter III1
Most Read
- White paper on energy
- Endangered monkeys grow in number
- Yangtze River's Three Gorges 2 mln years in the making
- The authorities sets sights on polluted soil
- China, US benefit from clean energy
NGO Events Calendar Tips
- Hand in hand to protect endangered animals and plants
- Changchun, Mini-marathon Aimed at Protecting Siberian Tiger
- Water Walk by Nature University
- Green Earth Documentary Salon
- Prof. Maria E. Fernandez to Give a Lecture on Climate Change
More
Archives
UN meets on climate change
The UN Climate Change Conference brought together representatives of over 180 countries and observers from various organizations.
Panda Facts
A record 28 panda cubs born via artificial insemination have survived in 2006.
South China Karst
Rich and unique karst landforms located in south China display exceptional natural beauty.
Saving the Tibetan Antelopes
The rare animals survive in the harsh natural environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
More
Laws & Regulations
- Forestry Law of the People's Republic of China
- Meteorology Law of the People's Republic of China
- Fire Control Law of the People's Republic of China
- Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters
- Law of the People's Republic of China on Conserving Energy
More
Links:
State Environmental Protection Administration
Ministry of Water Resources
Ministry of Land and Resources
China Environmental Industry Network
Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base