Official axed over water pollution scandal

An official of a county environmental protection bureau has been removed from his post after his whitewashing of pollution in north China's Hebei Province triggered outrage nationwide.

Deng Lianjun in TV program. [Video clip]

According to the CPC Committee of Cangxian County, Deng Lianjun, secretary of the leading Party group of the Environmental Protection Bureau of Cangxian County, was relieved of his position on Friday afternoon.

Reports on China Central Television earlier this week featured Deng claiming that the red appearance of water in the wells of Xiaozhuzhuang Village in Cangxian County does not mean it is unfit for drinking.

"Some water appears red because there are red materials in it. For example, if you put a handful of red beans into water, the water will turn red, and if you cook rice with red beans, the rice will also become red," Deng said when a journalist asked whether the red water in Xiaozhuzhuang could meet national standards or not.

Deng's response has been put under the spotlight and sparked outrage after being broadcast on television and the Internet.

Villagers blame the underground water pollution on Jianxin Chemical Plant near the village.