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Russian Environmentalist Speaks Against Panicking Over Chinese Chemical Leak

Posted on: Wednesday, 23 November 2005, 21:00 CST

MOSCOW. Nov 23 (Interfax) - Alexei Yablokov, a prominent environmentalist and leader of the Green Russia party, believes Russians should not panic over the toxic chemicals leak into the Sungari (Songhua) river following the accident at a chemical plant in Jilin province, China.

"Of course, judging by the efforts of the Chinese authorities that have stopped water intake in Harbin and 300-400 kilometer downstream in Jiamusi, and judging by the fact that $10 million dollars were promptly assigned for dealing with the aftermath of the accident, this is truly a bad case. Our concern is justified. But there is no cause for panic," he told Interfax on Wednesday.

"Khabarovsk gets its drinking water not from the Amur, to which the Sungari flows, but from special water reservoirs," Yablokov said.

"Besides the toxins that leaked into the river will be naturally diluted as they approach Russia's borders, and when they reach the Amur, they will be much less concentrated. Besides, water from the Sungari constitutes no more than 25% of the water in the Amur," he said.

However, "there are no doubts that the accident will badly damage the flora and fauna in Khabarovsk territory," he said.

Experts from the Russian Natural Resources Ministry predict the toxic substances may reach the Amur as early as Saturday. The chemicals moving at a speed of up to 100 kilometers a day may reach water storage facilities in Khabarovsk by the end of the month.

The ministry, therefore, set up on Wednesday headquarters to prevent water pollution.

A fast-reaction group led by Deputy Head of the Natural Resources Oversight Agency Oleg Mitvol is leaving for the Khabarovsk territory.

Source: Daily News Bulletin; Moscow - English

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