China Scoops Up 220,000 Pounds Of Poisoned Dead Fish
Wed, 09/04/2013 - 7:59am
BEIJING (AP) -- Authorities have scooped up around 100,000 kilograms (220,000 pounds) of dead fish they say were poisoned by ammonia from a chemical plant, environmental officials and state media said Wednesday, in a reminder of the pollution plaguing the country.
The Hubei province environmental protection department, notified of the piles of dead fish in central China's Fuhe River on Monday, pointed the finger at local company Hubei Shuanghuan Science and Technology Stock Co. Officials said sampling of its drain outlet showed that ammonia density far exceeded the national standard. The company said it wasn't going to immediately comment.
Inadequate controls on industry and lax enforcement of existing standards have worsened China's pollution problem, stemming from three decades of breakneck economic growth. High-profile incidents this year involving dead animals in rivers — not only deaths attributed to pollution but also carcasses dumped by farmers after die-offs at farms — have added to public disgust and suspicions about the safety of drinking water.
The latest incident has affected the nearby fishing village of Huanghualao, where 1,600 residents make a living from fishing, said the village's Communist Party secretary, Wang Sanqing.
"The dead fish covered the entire river and looked like snowflakes," he said, adding that the village has 150 fishing boats and could lose up to 70,000 yuan ($11,400) per day.
The environmental department warned the public not to eat the dead fish, but said drinking water was not affected. It said it ordered the company to suspend operations and fix the pollution problem.
The official Xinhua News Agency said about 100,000 kilograms of dead fish had been cleared from 40 kilometers (25 miles) of the river, but did not cite a figure for the number of fish. The environmental department said only that "a great number of fish" had been recovered.
Associated Press researcher Yu Bing contributed to this report.
Reference:
This article shows the inefficiency and failure of China Government in maintaining a check on its local companies, in regards to the production of pollutants and hazardous substances into the atmosphere. This lead affecting china's economic growth and also a loss in natural resources. In such scenario's I wouldn't blame the company but the government for its negligence and liberal attitude towards its local companies which lead to such disastrous events effecting many poor people and natural resources. I would also recommend a strict action against such companies, so that would alert the rest of the companies in maintaining the national standards in producing hazardous wastes.
ReplyDeleteThis article is about a chemical plant producing pollution and toxic waste which is killing fishes and other animals. The pollution was creating lot of problem to the country. The government of china were not able to bring solution to this problem which was creating havoc to the public. Even the drinking water was polluted. From this we can see that the company did not follow tqm aspects and green sustainability standards. The china government was in effective taking no efforts to stop the problem taking place at that point of time.
ReplyDeleteThe blind eye turned towards environmental concern has showed its result by plaguing the river and causing enormous loss to both animal life and endangered fishermen's life as well money for the fishing boats. The environmental protection department identifies a local company called Hubei Shuanghuan Science and Technology Stock Co. behind such wide range of pollution to the river and also the loss it has caused. Such high density of ammonia shows that the company did not follow the national standards nor maintained any regular checks in its waste releases. The measurements taken by the government may avoid such incidents to occur in the future but it is important for companies to inculcate the nature of being more green in their functioning.
ReplyDeletepolllution is one of the major concerns in the world today,and its sad to find out how the aquatic life has been suffering due to it. polluted water has been a cause for such a huge number of fishes to die. the government in china has raken measures to make sure the same hazard doesnt take place again but it is important for the industries to realise how their waste products are effecting life around them.
ReplyDeleteIts shocking how the situation deteriorated to such an alarming level.The marine life suffered badly because there was no proper check on ammonia being discharged from a chemical plant.It calls for stringent regulations so that such incidents never occur in the future.
ReplyDeleteThis is another example of a government failure to protect the nature. It is the duty of the government to save the nature and create awareness in people to keep their surroundings clean and green. If the government goes on like this, then it wont be a surprise to see the whole country suffer from diseases and this may also effect the nearby countries too.
ReplyDeleteThe article clearly indicates they dump chemical waste directly to the river. Who does that? Knowing people in the nearby villages earn a living by the fishes from there! And a higher official says the water is not affected its just the fish. Does that even make sense? Can anyone really believe they are that ignorant to let this continue and not try to stop these pollution incidents. The government needs to react on this situation as soon as possible before the situation gets even more worse.
ReplyDeleteThis article puts a big question mark on the Chinese authorities and how irresponsible they are in maintaining cleanliness and quality standards as they remained ignorant or oblivious of the fact that the local company kept dumping their factory's waste containing high amounts of ammonia which caused deaths of 100,000 kgs of fish and also polluted the water which is now not fit for drinking. the government should take necessary actions immediately before the situation worsens and another company commits the same mistake causing harm to humans and the environment to a great extent.
ReplyDeleteThis article represents the in-efficiency and negligence in maintenance of the surroundings by the government for the people living by. Mainly permissions for such companies should be rejected for the safety of the people. Much more precautions and safety measures to be taken by the government and by the public itself. Especially chemicals effect on younger once much more faster than on older people. This could lead to the drastic damage to the public and as well as surroundings. Government should react on these companies and issues as fast as it can to avoid further damages.
ReplyDeleteThis article worries me a lot. The hazards faced by the wildlife and the aquatic life increases each day. It is solemnly because of the effects of Pollution caused by we, humans. It is the concepts of TQM that we study reduce the carbon-footprint and reduce pollution. Striving towards a green society is what we need now and for the future's well being.
ReplyDelete