Chinanews.com, February 9th. In a few years, the Toutun River has changed from a "headache river" to a "happiness river" among the citizens.

In October 2021, the Toutun River ecological treatment project with a total investment of 3.817 billion yuan will be completed after five years, and a new picture of enriching the people will unfold head-on.

Photo courtesy of the Toutun River scenery in Changji Prefecture

A "River of Happiness"

　　Pai Jianming, director of the Changji Branch Office of the Changji Ecological Environment Bureau, is a native of Changji. He has participated in the Toutun River governance work and witnessed the dramatic changes that have taken place in the Toutun River.

　　The Toutun River originates from the northern slope of Karawucheng Mountain in the middle of the Tianshan Mountains. It is 190 kilometers long and has a total drainage area of ​​2,885 square kilometers.

　　Due to historical reasons, polluting enterprises gathered on both sides of the river, the river was full of garbage, the river bank was overgrown with weeds, and the riverbed was seriously damaged. It was once called "the river of headaches" by the surrounding people.

　　"The place we are standing at now is the former factory area of ​​the Tunhe Cement Factory. After renovation, the entire area has been planned and built into the current Xinjiang Grand Theater." Pai Jianming walked on the bank of the Toutun River and introduced it to everyone. past and present.

　　In his memory, the management and protection of the Toutun River are full of severe challenges.

In the former Toutun River, cement factories, sand and gravel factories, prefabrication factories and other enterprises were all over the banks, and the river course was full of gullies and devastated.

Local citizens even called it a "rotten ditch" and a "headache river".

　　Today, Bai Jianming is standing on the bank of the Toutun River, seeing the clear water and beautiful green land in front of him. Occasionally, there are egrets gliding across the water, causing waves of ripples. He deeply feels that the current Toutun River is already a " Happy River".

Photo courtesy of the Toutun River scenery in Changji Prefecture

A "battle"

　　In order to improve the ecological environment of the "Headache River", the local government decided to fight a tough battle.

　　In 2012, the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region initiated the implementation of the Toutun River Ecological Improvement Project, and promoted it as a key project of "environmental protection priority, ecological development".

In May 2016, according to the "Overall Plan for Coordinated Development of Comprehensive Remediation and Regional Development along the Toutun River" approved by the autonomous region, the scope of remediation is from the Wukui Expressway in the south to the North Ring Road in the north, and the 12th Division in the east. 13.3 kilometers, the renovation area of ​​9.1 square kilometers.

　　"We uphold the principle of 'ecological restoration' to restore and improve the original ecosystem along the Toutun River, create a harmonious environment for the growth of organisms, and ensure good water resources." Zhang Xiaodong, deputy director of the Changji City Housing and Urban-rural Development Bureau, said that the government was determined at the time to Create an ecological corridor with clear water, green banks, shallow bottom, lush aquatic plants, and flocks of egrets.

　　The Toutun River ecological comprehensive treatment project is large in scale and high in standards.

According to the situation along the river bank, landscape belts and supporting facilities need to be built, 1.592 million cubic meters of planting soil are backfilled, 1981.55 mu of river banks are greened, and artificial lakes are built.

A large number of flowers, plants and trees were carefully planned and planted, including more than 70 species of local suitable trees such as big and small white wax, long-branched elm, and split-leaf elm, with a total of 71,183 trees, and 132 types of shrubs and flowers totaling 1,361 mu.

　　Now, five theme parks, including the Natural Ecological Restoration Park and the Urban Sports Park, are scattered on both sides of the Toutun River, which are good places for citizens to relax, entertain and keep fit.

Photo courtesy of Toutun River Ecological Restoration Park

A new picture scroll of enriching the people

　　Not only as a gateway, Toutun River has also become a new industrial highland, a new living room of the city, and a new ecological space.

　　Xiaochu brand sauce and vinegar, which is familiar to Changji people, has been in business for 21 years on the banks of the Toutun River.

In 2011, among the enterprises along the Toutun River, Xinjiang Xiaochu Food Co., Ltd. was the first to relocate to Minchang Industrial Park.

　　Food companies, including Xiaochu Food, used to be located along the Toutun River, where the building materials industry is the mainstay.

Since cement factories, sand and gravel factories and other enterprises are located on both sides of the Toutun River, there are a lot of problems of random occupation, random mining, random piles and random construction along the banks.

　　From 2012 to 2017, Changji City invested 1.609 billion yuan in expropriation funds to relocate 93 enterprises, 13 sand pits, 599 households and related structures on the west bank of the Toutun River.

　　According to reports, the relocation of enterprises on the west bank of the Toutun River involves a wide range of areas and is also very difficult. There are many difficulties.

In the process of comprehensive improvement along the Toutun River, Urumqi City, Changji City, and the 12th Division of the Corps coordinated management to solve the problems of funds and demolition. While returning the green Toutun River, it also brought green to the enterprise. new opportunities for development.

　　In the past, Xinjiang Xiaochu Food Co., Ltd. was unable to expand its production capacity due to limitations such as venues.

After entering the new factory area, the company expanded its production, and its product items increased to more than 200, which are sold in the national market.

At the same time, more than 5 million yuan has been invested in new sewage treatment equipment, which can process 30 tons to 120 tons of waste water per day, meeting the national secondary discharge standard.

　　"This relocation is really a big step forward for the company." Xiaochu Foods Yu Chunshan said frankly, practicing green development and following the development of the times, the company is getting better and better, and the lives of ordinary people are getting better and better.

　　As night fell, the Toutun River Valley Forest Park became radiant and brightly lit. People on the runway along the coast sweated and enjoyed the beauty brought about by the improvement of the ecological environment.

(over)