We are greatly relieved to see that emergency measures have
finally contained a chemical spill that might otherwise have
poisoned the water supply for millions of people in the city of
Harbin.
It is the second time the capital city of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province has faced such a threat
of water contamination.
Memory remains fresh that a blast at a petrochemical plant in
Jilin, a city in neighboring Jilin Province, released toxic benzene into
the Songhua River and forced Harbin, located downstream, to cut its
water supply for four days last November.
This time, preliminary investigation found that workers in a
chemical plant in Jilin Province illegally discharged pollutants
into the Mangniu River, a tributary of the Songhua River. The
pollution is much smaller in scale and far less serious than last
time. But it still caused panic among Harbin residents, who rushed
to shops to stock up on bottled water in scenes reminiscent of the
disorder last November.
Those responsible must be held accountable and local authorities
must take meticulous measures to ensure people's health is not
affected.
We appreciate the quick reaction from relevant government
departments, which have coordinated to take immediate measures to
prevent pollutants in the water from flowing unchecked. Tests show
the water supply for Harbin has not been contaminated, according to
the city's environmental protection officials.
But it is not time for us to relax. Harbin environmental
officials predict that it may take about 12 days for the polluted
water to reach the city, which means we have yet to see the
pollution's real effect.
It is regrettable that such an incident has happened again. Last
year, local officials had vowed to pay more attention to such
environmental emergencies after the Songhua River pollution caught
them off guard.
Drawing on last year's lessons, environmental officials in both
provinces have reportedly strengthened efforts in monitoring the
water flow in the Songhua River. They have devised emergency
response plans, which were put to use this time.
On the other hand, the incident shows that Jilin officials have
failed to effectively regulate the pollutant discharge of local
enterprises.
Admittedly, it is hard for them to prevent such illegal
untreated discharges entirely. But as a province lying upstream,
Jilin must be aware that unrestrained industrial activities may
cause serious trouble for regions downstream.
It is its obligation to closely watch the production of local
enterprises.
We hope Jilin can draw lessons from the incident not so serious
as it is and ensure that no one under its jurisdiction will pollute
the water resource it shares with the downstream areas.
(China Daily August 25, 2006)