'Red cards' for polluting firms
GUANGZHOU - The Guangdong environmental protection department is likely to soon show red cards to 34 enterprises and yellow cards to another 46 after they failed to meet standards set in the watchdog's environmental rating system.
Guangdong began the practice in 2008 with 12 indices rating potentially polluting enterprises.
The information is available to the public on its official website, as well as in a trade newspaper, to seek comments and complaints to prevent polluting firms from evading sanctions.
Companies that meet all 12 indices are given green cards, while those that do not meet standards are to receive either yellow or red cards, meaning they have been "warned" or "will be kept under closer supervision".
A total of 428 enterprises were in the province's rating system last year.
Those with green cards for three consecutive years will have access to preferential policies including subsidies from an environment protection fund, while others will be urged to take immediate action to minimize pollution and be kept under closer supervision.
The practice is expected to help the province evolve from a pattern of economic development at the expense of the environment and people's health and help with the new "Happy Guangdong" campaign.
At a recent teleconference, Lin Musheng, vice-governor of Guangdong, said the provincial government will redouble efforts to keep potentially polluting enterprises and industries under supervision.
Coal-fired power plants and industries that could introduce lead into the environment are among targeted industries.
The province will also gear up efforts to improve water quality in seven polluted rivers while uncovering possible hidden risks from dangerous chemicals, petrochemical firms and tailing ponds.
"Improving the environment is a contribution to the province's 'Happy Guangdong' initiative," the vice-governor noted.
Lin said the province tracked down 12,700 cases of environmental pollution last year. Some 10,383 enterprises were urged to improve their capacity to reduce pollution, with another 4,013 ordered to cease operations in 2010.
(China Daily 06/01/2011 page60)
