The environmental protection authority in this southern city
of?Guangzhou?has pledged to further its efforts to clean
up the
Pearl River in
the years ahead, to ensure residents can swim in it "all-year-
round".
"Swimming in the river was once a big sporting event for
citizens. But the river is now seriously polluted due to rapid
urbanization and industrial development, said Ding Hong, director
of the Guangzhou environmental protection bureau.
Last year, about 3,500 people were allowed to swim in the river
for the first time in 30 years. The river stretches across the
urban area of Guangzhou, capital city of South China's Guangdong
Province.
"The event last year was a signal of the steady improvement of
the river's water quality. But our final goal is to realize by 2010
excellent swimming conditions all-year- round," Ding said.
Last year, the local government invested more than 11 billion
yuan (US$1.4 billion) on cleaning up the river. Most drainage areas
are graded at 4, according to sources with Ding's department.
The national water quality grading system is based on a clean 1
to a dirty 5. Water for swimming must meet grade 3.
"We will earmark about 2 billion yuan every year till 2010 for
the cleansing of all small rivers in urban areas that connect the
Pearl River, to ensure a clean water source," Ding said.
There are currently more than 200 small rivers in Guangzhou's
urban areas, most of which are used for residential sewage.
"We have found that more than 80 percent of pollutants in the
Pearl River have been from these small rivers. So major efforts
will be given to stop the dumping of sewage," Ding said.
He said industrial corporations situated along the Pearl River
will also be required to meet environmental protection standards,
or be forced to be move out of the area.
Ding said a total of 147 factories in recent years that were
high energy-consumers have been renovated or moved out of the
area.
The Guangzhou Daily reported that another swimming event
in the river will be held this year, but an official with the
Guangzhou sports administration department said yesterday plans had
not been finalized.
"The swimming, together with a climbing event on Baiyun
Mountain, has been written into our annual work plan. But right now
we are still waiting for approval by the municipal government,"
Chen Jianzhu, a media official with the Guangzhou sports bureau,
told China Daily.
"Swimming is good for us all. But the most important thing now
is to enhance efforts to clean up the river," Chen said.
(China Daily May 17, 2007)
