A 9.2-billion yuan (US$1.2 billion) effort to prevent and
control pollution in valley areas along the Yarlung Zangbo River
and its four tributaries is underway in the Tibet Autonomous
Region.
The autonomous region's government launched the decade-long
project as a precautionary measure to prevent Tibet from repeating
the mistakes that other parts of the country have made in pursuing
economic development, particularly waiting to deal with pollution
until after the damage to the environment has already been
done.
The central government and local enterprises will shoulder the
project's 9.2 billion yuan cost.
The valley area along the Yarlung Zangbo River and its
tributaries the Nyangchu, Lhasa, Yarlung and Nyang rivers covers
more than 300,000 square kilometers.
The project involves four prefectures and 32 counties, including
Lhasa, Xigaze, Shannan and Nyingchi, all of which play important
roles in Tibet's economic and social development.
Experts have already defined how much pollution the local
ecosystem can bear, People's Daily reported recently.
Based on those calculations, the experts worked out an emission
control plan for pollutants.
They also set emissions standards for water and atmospheric
pollution and created a pollution index for each city and
county.
They have also drawn up detailed plans to prevent and treat
water, air, noise and solid waste pollution, and have listed key
projects to pursue.
One short-term goal is that by 2010, 60 percent of the region's
domestic sewage, 90 percent of its industrial sewage and 85 percent
of the industrial waste gas and domestic waste in key towns is to
be treated so that it meets safe emissions requirements.?
Controling emissions and guaranteeing safe drinking water are
two of the project's guiding principles.
The valley in question is home to abundant mineral and
biological resources as well as solar and hydro energy. Agriculture
and livestock breeding are major sources of income for local
people.
However, the valley has also experienced rapid urbanization in
recent years, and problems associated with pollution have begun to
emerge, People's Daily reported.
The project's goal is to make sure local people have safe water,
safe food and clean air.
Tibet's environment has been a source of concern for many
people.
The topic is listed as a priority part of the central
government's environment protection efforts.
During the 10th Five-Year Plan (2000-05), the government has
invested 230 million yuan (US$29 million) and set up 38 nature
reserves covering 407,700 square kilometers in Tibet, Tibet Daily
reported.
The government also spent 362 million yuan (US$47 million) on a
project aimed at protecting forests on the upper reaches of the
Yangtze River, and 67 million yuan (US$8.66 million) treating
industrial pollution.
(China Daily April 11, 2007)