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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Inspects River Contamination in Harbin

Posted on: Saturday, 26 November 2005, 21:00 CST

Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China news agency)

Harbin, 26 November: On 26 November, Wen Jiabao, Standing Committee member of the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] Central Committee Political Bureau and premier of the State Council, inspected the condition of water contamination in the Songhua River, familiarized himself with the situation of domestic water supply for the masses; and visited cadres and the masses on behalf of the party Central Committee, the State Council, and General Secretary Hu Jintao.

On 13 November, an explosion occurred in the Jilin Petrochemical Company's aniline and phenol acetone plant, causing serious contamination of the waters in the Songhua River. The party Central Committee and the State Council have attached great importance to this matter; and instructed the local governments and relevant departments to step up surveillance of the water quality at all times, to provide accurate information, and to adopt effective measures to ensure the safety and supply of drinking water for the masses. The State Council dispatched a task force and group of experts to Harbin to provide on-the-site guidance. Heilongjiang provincial and Harbin city authorities decided to shut off the water supply inlets on the Songhua River and stop water supply to the city's urban areas before the stretches of contaminated water would arrive in Harbin; and started to implement all emergency prevention and control measures at the city and district levels and in key areas. Currently the supply of domestic water for the masses is guaranteed, and the society is stable.

At around 1300 [0500 gmt] on the afternoon of 26 November, Wen Jiabao and Hua Jianmin, state councillor and concurrently secretary general of the State Council, went directly to the Third Water Plant of Harbin as soon as they got off the plane. In the plant, armed police officers and men were busy downloading bags of active carbon. He was pleased upon hearing that 700 tons of active carbon had been delivered to the city. He said: You are shouldering the responsibility of resuming water supply. I hope you will work harder.

Later, Wen Jiabao visited the supermarket in the Central Shopping Mall in the central city. On the weekend, hustling and bustling shoppers crowded the market, while the shelves were filled with bottled water. Wen Jiabao asked shopper Zhang Xiaohua who was getting vegetables, "Do you have difficulties getting water for home use?"

"Not at all. We have stored more than we can use."

"Don't worry. The water supply will resume in two days," Wen told Zhang.

At 1330, Wen Jiabao arrived at the Songhua River banks to inspect the condition of water contamination. He urged local departments to strengthen water surveillance.

Wen Jiabao also visited the people at the Fendou Residential Compound in Nangang District. At the home of 67-year-old resident Du Jiliang, Wen Jiabao kindly asked him about his family. The premier told Du: The government has adopted various measures to guarantee water supply to the residents, including transferring water and digging wells. The filtering facilities of water plants are also undergoing renovation, and surveillance and testing are being carried out. Water supply will resume from 2300 on the evening of 27 November.

Du Jiliang's oldest daughter said: "Our everyday life is in perfect order and the public order is also excellent. We thank the party and the government for keeping the masses in mind."

Wen Jiabao said: "It should be the other way around. It should be the party and the government that thank you, the masses, for understanding, support, and coordination."

At around 1400, Wen Jiabao arrived at the Harbin Institute of Technology's well-drilling construction site and inquired in detail about the condition of the local hydrographical geology. He encouraged workers of the well-drilling team to step up efforts to drill up-to-standard deep-water wells at an early date to contribute to the resumption of water supply. At the dormitory of the Institute, he chatted cordially with students and urged them to deal with emergency incidents calmly.

At 1600, Wen Jiabao presided over a meeting to hear reports by the Heilongjiang provincial government and related departments, and gave an important speech. He fully affirmed the work done by Heilongjiang Province and Harbin City in ensuring the safety of public water supply. He said: As our government is a people's government, we must be highly responsible for the health and safety of the people. Local governments at all levels along the Songhua River and the relevant departments must attach great importance to and do a meticulous job in handling the incident of water pollution in the Songhua River. He put forth seven requirements: First, It is necessary to closely monitor and test the condition of water contamination. The relevant state departments should strengthen guidance over pollution prevention and control, while cities and towns located along the river should examine the water quality of each section and release the results to the public in time. Second, it is necessary to adopt various measures to ensure people's demand of drinking water and the quality of the water. Labour force, equipment, and materials must be assembled for digging wells and transferring water. Water plants must strengthen preventive efforts against pollution to ensure water supply and storage during the water-stoppage period. Efforts should also be made to ensure water use especially in schools and hospitals and for heating systems. We must not make one single person in short of drinking water, nor can we make one drink polluted water. Third, it is necessary to do an earnest job in handling the aftermath of the pollution. We should evaluate the environment after the polluted water passed by and adopt thorough measures to cleanse the pollution without leaving any potential danger. It is also necessary to investigate the possible impacts of the pollution on the whole river as soon as possible and to study ways to thoroughly eliminate the contamination. Fourth, it is necessary to reinforce safety in production, in particular, the safety of producing combustible materials, explosives, and hazardous chemicals. Fifth, it is necessary to conscientiously investigate the cause of the accident and severely punish those responsible for the accident. Sixth, it is necessary to step up contacts with Russia; provide surveillance information in time; and increase cooperation with the Russian side with a friendly and responsible attitude. Seventh, it is necessary to strengthen publicity and guidance. We should do well in ideological work by explaining the truth of the matter to the masses as well as measures taken by the government. We should strengthen control of prices of drinking water and related products; guard against speculation in commodity prices; and maintain normal production and life order.

Source: BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific

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