Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Demands Thorough Investigation of Taihu Lake Crisis

Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency)

["Premier Demands Thorough Investigation of Taihu Lake Crisis" - Xinhua headline]

Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, June 11 (Xinhua) – Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has demanded a thorough investigation of the Taihu Lake crisis, which has affected the drinking water supply of about 2 million residents in east China, and efforts to protect the lake from further pollution.

“The pollution of Taihu Lake has sounded the alarm for us,” Wen said in a directive to a symposium held by the State Council here on Monday.

Taihu Lake, which was once a scenic attraction famous for its aquatic life, including white bait, shrimps, lily and water chestnuts, has been heavily polluted as a result of industry, agriculture and domestic waste.

Wen said efforts had been made to reduce pollution in the Taihu Lake in recent years. “But the problem has never been tackled at the root.”

He asked participants of the symposium, including officials from central and local governments, environmental workers, scholars and researchers, to thoroughly investigate the Taihu Lake crisis so as to come up with concrete protection measures.

Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan, who attended the symposium, demanded governments at all levels make every effort to prevent algae bloom and ensure the safety of drinking water.

Zeng asked local governments to continue collecting the blue- algae, intensify monitoring of water quality, ensure the water supply and divert more water from the Yangtze River to flush out the pollution.

He also asked environmental watchdogs to strengthen supervision and punish factories that discharge pollutants into Taihu Lake.

The Taihu Lake crisis started last month, as the low water level and the accumulation of waste and untreated sewage triggered the rapid growth of blue algae, turning the water putrid and cutting freshwater supply to more than 2 million residents.

Authorities diverted water from the Yangtze River to dilute the lake water and used chemicals to treat the algae.

Workers have collected 6,000 tons of blue-algae from the lake, and local health authorities say that tap water once again meets drinking standards.

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