More than 20 trucks have roared into Wengjianao Village every day since November 2, dumping garbage around the clock. Over 10,000 tons of rubbish has turned the small village in central China's Hubei Province into a stinking trash heap.

Annoyed villagers have tried to stop the dumping but piles of rubbish continue to eat away their land, polluting drinking water and crop fields. One villager was even beaten up by the workers for interrupting dumping.

According to Chutian Metropolis News, the garbage came from nearby Yanglan Village. Previously a garbage disposal center, Yanglan is now surrounded by high-rise buildings, and the property developer is excavating old garbage for further construction.

A man surnamed Lu in charge of garbage transferal argued their operation was approved by Wengjianao Village. A manager from the developer's office confirmed they had spent 100,000 yuan as a garbage-transfer fee.

However, Wengjianao villagers deny ever giving permission for the dump. An official surnamed Yang revealed that Weng, the leader of Group 12 had agreed to the dumping after taking an illegal bribe. Cheng Fujun, the Party secretary of the village said Weng's personal activities couldn't represent the wishes of the village.

According to the city's urban planning bureau, the property development project in Yanglan Village was approved as a part of the city's housing program. Xiao Longbin, director of the city sanitation bureau said he was aware of the garbage transferal but knew nothing about where it would be dumped.

According to the news report, Ma Zaixue, the Party secretary of Echeng District has launched an investigation into this dispute.

(China.org.cn by Huang Shan November 9, 2007)