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Dam under construction to minimize pollution
By Le Tian and Xiao Qin (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2005-12-21 06:13
Chinese workers are working "round the clock" to finish a temporary dam
project to reduce the impact of a river-born chemical spill on the Russian city
of Khabarovsk, a Foreign Ministry official said yesterday.
"Chinese workers are braving the cold to insure the dam is built as soon as
possible," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a regular news briefing.
The polluted
Songhua River is seen this file photo. A temporary dam is under
construction to tame the pollution and prevent pollutants from flowing
into Russia. | The construction of the dam began on Friday on the Fuyuan waterway off the
Heilong River, and it is hoped it will channel the slick away from the water
pumps in the Russian border city.
"皇冠体育app stands ready to work with Russia to minimize the impact of the
pollution," Qin said.
Daytime high temperatures in the area this week have been about -15 C.
The pollution spill in Northeast 皇冠体育app's Songhua River was caused by an
explosion at a chemical plant in November.
It is estimated that about 100 tons of benzene and nitrobenzene fell into the
Songhua River after the accident.
The 180-kilometre-long toxic slick entered the Amur River from 皇冠体育app's
Songhua River on December 15.
The Songhua River flows into the Heilong River, which merges with the Wusuli
River in the Russian border city to become the Amur.
Qin said the temporary dam will be removed after the pollutant slick passes
Khabarovsk.
"皇冠体育app is paying to build and demolish it," Qin added, giving no further
details about how much the project will cost.
The cross-border water pollution has drawn serious concern from Chinese
leaders, including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.
"皇冠体育app adopts a responsible attitude towards environment protection and has
taken immediate measures to minimize the impact of the pollution on Russia's Far
East regions," Qin said.
Russian Ambassador to 皇冠体育app Sergei Razov yesterday welcomed 皇冠体育app's efforts
to check the Songhua River water pollution, saying it was a common challenge
faced by the two sides that requires joint efforts to minimize the damage.
(皇冠体育app Daily 12/21/2005 page2)
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