Focus on the central ecological and environmental protection inspector丨Zhenjiang, Jiangsu: 19 illegal projects were found in less than 300 kilometers of the Yangtze River coastline
Xinhua News Agency, Nanjing, April 7th. Question: Zhenjiang, Jiangsu: 19 illegal projects were found in less than 300 kilometers of Yangtze River coastline
Xinhua News Agency "Xinhua Viewpoint" reporters Qin Huajiang and Liu Yuxuan
There are 19 projects on the 293-kilometer Yangtze River coastline that have not been approved for river-related construction projects, 9 of which are chemical projects with relatively high environmental risks.
The river surface was occupied by solid waste, and some enterprises smuggled out excess sewage into the Yangtze River...
In the past few days, a reporter from "Xinhua Viewpoint" conducted an on-the-spot interview with the Central Second Ecological Environmental Protection Inspectorate and found that the cleaning and remediation of some of the Yangtze River coastlines in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu was not well advanced, and the ecological damage and pollution problems were more prominent.
Some hotels illegally set up projects in the name of "water conservancy facilities", and the enterprises discharged red sewage into the Yangtze River
Overlooking the river bank of Yangzhong City, Zhenjiang City, the blue-grey roof of Xishawan Star Hotel is out of tune with the riverside style.
Such a riverside tourist resort hotel, which is known as "exclusively enjoying the scenery of the river", is an illegal building entrenched along the Yangtze River in the name of "water conservancy facilities".
The hotel is adjacent to the important provincial wetland of the Yangtze River (Yangzhong City) and the National Aquatic Germplasm Resource Reserve of the dark-patterned Oriental pufferfish.
In 2009, the water conservancy department of Yangzhong City approved the project in the name of water conservancy facilities.
Yangzhong City knew that the project was illegal, but still reported it as a water conservancy facility during the inspection by the superior.
The reporter learned that within the management scope of the main stream of the Yangtze River in Zhenjiang City, there are 19 projects that have not obtained approval procedures for river-related construction projects, of which 9 are chemical projects with high environmental risks.
The inspector found that chemical enterprises such as Zhenjiang Jingjing Chemical Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Tianchen New Materials Co., Ltd., Zhenjiang Huilong Chemical Co., Ltd., and Jiangsu Hechun Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. were built near the river, encroaching on the Yangtze River, and a large number of abandoned equipment and hazardous chemicals in the factory area. The products pose a great threat to the ecological and environmental security of the Yangtze River.
Red sewage was gushing out, and pipes were buried on the embankment of the Yangtze River not far away.
The reporter found along with the group that Jiangsu Yuanze Electric Co., Ltd. discharged heavy metal-containing wastewater into the Yangtze River.
After verification, the concentrations of total chromium, total nickel and total phosphorus in the wastewater exceeded the limit by ten to dozens of times respectively.
Jiangsu Fuxing Ship Co., Ltd. illegally occupied the Yangtze River coastline for the construction and dismantling of new ships without approval.
The reporter saw that various mechanical arrangements were messy at the scene, and ships that were being dismantled were parked on the beach.
A large amount of oily wastewater is directly discharged into the Yangtze River, and hazardous wastes such as waste oil are scattered and dumped on the river beach at will...
The site was also filthy, and Yangzhong Zhongkang Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd. was located on the riverside. The reporter learned that the company shut down the sewage treatment facilities without authorization, and discharged the feces into the Yangtze River through the ditches in the factory area.
Knowing that the project is illegal, but not investigating and punishing, some companies commit crimes against the wind
Some grass-roots cadres have reflected that the poor cleaning and rectification of the Yangtze River coastline is related to the lack of supervision and law enforcement.
Take the Xishawan Star Hotel, which was still open at the time of the inspection, as an example. It started construction in 2009 in the name of water conservancy facilities. Yangzhong City knew that the project was illegal, but did not investigate and punish it according to law.
In addition, some companies that have been punished are still breaking the law.
"It has a great impact on the safety of the Yangtze River flood." The inspection team found that within the river management scope of Jiangsu Dingsheng Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., nearly 40,000 square meters of illegal construction occupied the beach.
The reporter followed the group to see that two other shipbuilding enterprises filled the river beach with construction waste and industrial solid waste and eroded the river surface, covering an area of about 18,000 square meters.
However, the two companies claimed that they had completed the rectification and reported for acceptance by the end of 2019.
Zhenjiang Huasheng New Materials Co., Ltd. has 9 waste plastic recycling enterprises within the management scope of the Yangtze River.
In April 2021, the local ecological environment department found that the production wastewater of the enterprise was discharged into the Yangtze River rainwater drainage station through the rainwater ditch. On-site sampling and monitoring showed that the chemical oxygen demand concentration of the discharged wastewater was higher than the first level of the "Comprehensive Wastewater Discharge Standard". The standard was 2.4 times. In June of that year, an administrative penalty was imposed and an immediate rectification was ordered.
However, the rectification was not in place when the inspectors arrived.
In addition, Zhenjiang Huantai Silicon Technology Co., Ltd. illegally occupied 430 acres of beach land to build workshops and corresponding production facilities. In November 2019, the company only demolished 3 trestle bridges and a small number of buildings. In March 2020, Yangzhong City accepted the inspection.
The on-site inspector found that the remaining illegally constructed buildings (structures) have not been rectified, and a large amount of industrial solid waste and sludge are left in the factory building, and the hidden dangers of environmental risks are prominent.
Investigate and punish enterprises suspected of stealing waste water, and demolish 13 illegal occupation of river beaches
It is understood that companies suspected of stealing wastewater are being investigated.
Yangzhong City has implemented demolition of 13 illegally occupied river beaches.
Zhenjiang New District has completed 8,000 square meters of cleaning and dust-proof net coverage.
In response to the problems found by the inspectors, Zhenjiang is promoting the implementation of various rectification work.
Through the comparison of on-site pictures, it was found that some chemical companies' warehouses, storage tanks and sewage treatment facilities have been demolished, and the materials have been cleaned; some electrical companies' equipment has been cleared and transported, and the workshops are being demolished; many corporate office buildings have also been demolished.
Many grass-roots cadres interviewed said that promoting the protection of the Yangtze River is not only a tough battle, but also a protracted battle.
Some experts said that the current pollution problem is still very serious, and the interests behind it are intricate. It is necessary to promote the in-depth development of the inspectors and strengthen the determination of the grassroots to confront hardships.
In addition, grass-roots cadres suggested that environmental infrastructure should be continuously improved while strict supervision.
Local governments can increase investment in shared pollution control facilities, reduce pollution control costs for small and medium-sized enterprises as much as possible, and stimulate endogenous environmental protection power in enterprises.