A district government in east China's city of Ningbo on Wednesday assured the public that a petrochemical plant it plans to expand meets "the most stringent discharge standards," two days after local villagers protested over pollution concerns.

The expansion is planned to be built in the Ningbo Petrochemical Economic and Technical Development Zone in the city's Zhenhai district with a combined investment of nearly 55.8 billion yuan (8.8 billion U.S. dollars).

Nearly 200 local residents protested outside the district government's offices on Monday over safety and pollution fears, as they believe the planned expansion is located too close to their homes.

"The farmers who blocked the roads have left," said a statement issued by the district government on Wednesday.

The statement urged residents to voice their demands in a rational way and to maintain social stability and harmony.

The district government has promised to resettle villagers who have had to relocate because of the expansion, as well as threatened punishment for a "very small number of people who were involved in instigating, making up rumors and organizing illegal activities."

The statement said advanced technology will be used to ensure that the plant's production is environmentally friendly. The investment for environmental protection will reach 3.6 billion yuan.

But fears remain among local residents.

"I just heard that a new chemical project would be built. We don't know if it will cause pollution or not. We hope the government can give us an answer," said Lu Haijie, a retired teacher. His house is located less than 5 km away from the plant.

A man who declined to be named said he also has worries about the plant, as the local environment is already in poor condition.

The district government said it has spent 6.4 billion yuan to build new residential areas, adding that 9,800 families have been relocated already.

Similar protests have erupted in several other cities in recent years. In 2007, thousands of people in east China's city of Xiamen protested the construction of a paraxylene (PX) plant over health concerns. The plant was eventually relocated.

Last year, authorities in northeast China's city of Dalian ordered a PX chemical plant to shut down after local residents took to the streets to demand that the plant be relocated over concerns regarding possible toxic chemical leaks.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)