Mayor dives in to test pollution efforts
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E-mail Xinhua, August 3, 2017
The mayor of Yongcheng in central China’s Henan Province jumped into a previously tainted river to test local authorities’ anti-pollution efforts.
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Mayor dives in to test pollution efforts |
And when Li Zhonghua launched himself into the Huchenghe River in the city’s Xicheng District on Tuesday morning, officials from the local government’s general office, the environmental protection office and the construction bureau followed suit.
Residents looking on burst into applause, with some shouting: “You kept your promise, Mr Mayor!”
The river was created more than 1,300 years ago for city defenses and runs for more than 3,800 meters. In recent years, with increasing garbage and heavy pollution, it became silted up and the water slowed to a trickle, fueling a torrent of public complaints.
Last year, when Li saw the pollution, he demanded immediate efforts to clean the river within a year.
“I will come back next year and test the anti-pollution efforts with my own body by swimming in it,” he was quoted as saying.
An anti-pollution headquarters was set up, which took a variety of measures, such as rain and sewage diversion, planting trees, strengthening the mud river bed with rocks and concrete planks, and raising fish.
Over the past year, more than 280 toilets and illegal buildings along the banks were demolished, and more than 11,000 square meters of sludge removed.
A water diversion project was also launched, with water from another, cleaner river flowing into the Huchenghe.
The latest data from the environmental protection bureau showed the water quality has reached the national level of Grade III, suitable for aquaculture ... and swimming.
After his dip, Li said that he would continue to urge environmental protection efforts in the city.
China’s water quality improved last year, but still fell far short of expectations, an official said earlier this year.
Last year, 67.8 percent of monitored surface water areas were ranked Grade I to Grade III, indicating relatively good quality, according to Zhang Bo, head of the Ministry of Environmental Protection’s water environment division.
An Action Plan for Water Pollution Prevention and Control was launched in April 2015 to reduce pollutants, improve drinking water quality and promote water conservation.
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