Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao vowed Saturday to tackle algae
outbreaks that stench the country's freshwater lakes, urging
officials to take environmental management of the lakes as a state
project.
Since May, blue-green algae outbreaks have been reported in
eastern Taihu Lake, Chaohu Lake and southwestern Dianchi Lake,
endangering local tap water supply.
"We need to take environmental management of the three lakes as
a state project and put it at a more prominent, pressing and
important position," Wen said at a meeting on pollution control
work of the three lakes.
"We should tackle the problem with scientific approach, good
leadership, and high standards and confidence," Wen said.
The priority is to protect the lakes from further pollution and
ensure the safety of drinking water for the local residents, Wen
said.
In the meeting, Wen asked local officials to strengthen
supervision and ban factories from discharging pollutants into the
lakes.
He also urged more investment into tackling the algae pollution
and strengthened efforts to draft regulations on the environmental
protection of the three lakes.
(Xinhua News Agency July 2, 2007)