Guangdong governor says pollution plan in place
Date: 06-Jun-02
Country: CHINA
Author: Eric Hall
Guangdong Governor Lu Ruihua acknowledged yesterday that his province had reached a stage of economic development where pollution had reached grave levels, but noted that public awareness of the problem was also growing to a high level.
"The two most common concerns in the World, I see, are environment, and sport," he said.
In an interview, Lu said policies were now in place to tackle water and air pollution, waste control, and reforestation. The results may take some time.
Guangdong's pollution, especially in the industrialised Pearl River delta which runs south past Hong Kong, is evident to anyone who cares to look up at a blue sky on many days when the scenery at eye level is hidden behind a miasma of industrial and auto fumes.
Hong Kong suffers particularly badly because the wind-blown pollutants from Guangdong mix with its own toxic blend of vehicle fumes, a problem which the Hong Kong government has so far failed to fix as continuing high pollution statistics show.
Hong Kong and Guangdong recently agreed to cooperate in reducing pollution.
BLUE SKIES AHEAD. NO PIGS
"In terms of cutting back dust pollution, we have already done a lot, including closing down almost all cement and brick factories in the Pearl Delta," Lu said.
"For waste, especially garabage treatment, we have formulated a blueprint," he added.
Lu said that Guangdong had also set standards for vehicle emissions and rules to ban polluting automobiles from the roads.
As in Hong Kong, the proof of success will be in effective enforcement of vehicle standards.
The province was also moving to close piggeries in the Pearl Delta, which are a major water polluter as the waste streams into the rivers.
"One pig produces the same amount of pollutants as seven men," Lu noted.
