70% of rivers and lakes in China are polluted, and 75% require quality improvement, according to information from a symposium held in Jiangxi Province yesterday.
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Polluted water in the Tunghua River |
Chen Bangzhu, Chairman of the Population, Resources, and Environment Committee of China, stated that currently, most rivers in China are under threat from shrinkage and pollution. Additionally, there are other issues such as the decline of wetlands.
This situation is worsening, posing dangers to rivers, primarily due to economic booms, population growth, and unregulated development. Other contributing factors include the lack of laws and inadequate oversight by relevant departments. Without scientific guidelines, some rivers have been polluted due to illegal wastewater discharges and excessive use of fertilizers. As a result, there is a shortage of clean water, and floods and droughts are occurring more frequently.
In China, inland lakes are a vital resource. For instance, Tai Lake in Jiangxi Province is abundant in rice and fish, contributing to the sustenance of 3% of China’s population.
T.VY (Xinhua)
