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The environmental protection bureau of northeast China's
Heilongjiang Province said yesterday that subfreezing temperatures
are slowing the progress of the chemical slick down the Songhua
River and that the density of pollutants, chiefly nitrobenzene,
remains high.
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In a news release the bureau said the river is now frozen over in
parts and, as of Thursday afternoon, the 150-kilometer stretch of
pollution was lingering near Tonghe County.
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The main body of pollution was detected close to Mulan monitoring
post at 4 AM yesterday with a nitrobenzene density 27.47 times
above the national limit.
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Meanwhile, Tonghe monitoring post further downriver reported a
nitrobenzene density of 0.1548 milligrams as of 8 AM the same day,
8.11 times the limit, and was growing.
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The stretch is expected to reach Dalianhe Township of Yilan County
at 2 AM tomorrow and arrive at Jiamusi, the province's second
largest city, on December 6.
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Yilan's local government has shut down water collection channels
from the river and is controlling essential use by large
enterprises.
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The county government has asked all Dalianhe residents to store
water for five to seven days for when their supply is cut off as
the pollution belt passes by.
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It has also taken emergency measures to ensure a daily 3,500-ton
supply to the township, where more than two thirds of residents use
river sources for drinking water.
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Li Yizhong, head of the National Bureau of Production Safety
Supervision Administration, arrived in Jiamusi yesterday to examine
the city's prevention and preparation work.
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He affirmed the achievements cities on the river have made during
the past days, but said it was "merely a temporary triumph over the
pollution."
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Li said the government must clearly see that the situation is still
very serious for cities on the lower reaches of the river with an
expanding pollution belt and still-high pollutant densities.
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The pollution was caused by a chemical plant blast on November 13
in neighboring Jilin Province, resulting in massive leak of toxins
into the Songhua River.
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Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang with the river as its main water
source, resumed peak supply of water on Sunday after a five-day
suspension.
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(Xinhua News Agency December 2, 2005)
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