Sudden Environmental Pollution Cases Increase

An official from the National Development and Reform Commission has recently made an announcement, stating that various sudden environmental pollution cases in China have increased drastically. Since January 2006 the State Environmental Protection Administration has already received reports on 49 sudden environmental pollution cases with a wide coverage.    In terms of seriousness, these 49 environmental pollution cases include 4 serious cases, 13 major cases and 32 ordinary cases. In terms of root cause, 22 cases are induced by safe production accidents, 12 cases are induced by illegal sewage discharge, 11 cases are induced by communication accidents and 4 cases are induced by third party responsibility and meteorological conditions. In terms of pollution result, 15 cases have caused atmospheric pollution, 32 cases have caused water pollution and 2 cases have caused water/atmospheric comprehensive pollution. The warning for most cases has not yet been removed but the situation has basically been controlled.    The official has also pointed out that the increase of sudden environmental pollution cases shows that some enterprises are making illegal sewage discharge in pursuit of maximum economic returns. Environmental protection departments at various levels should enforce laws and regulations on environmental protection, order enterprises with serious pollution and no waste water treatment facilities to suspend production and conduct rectification, order enterprises with excess sewage discharge to take corrective measures within a prescribed time limit, punish and openly criticize enterprises making illegal sewage discharge and file recommendations to the government to shut down enterprises with no hope of rectification.