Home>News Center>China
       
 

Environmental chief sacked following major pollution
(Xinhua/chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-12-02 19:15

Xie Zhenhua, director of China's State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), has resigned, according to an announcement issued by the State Council, or cabinet, on Friday.

Environmental chief sacked following major pollution

Xie was replaced by Zhou Shengxian, former director of State Forestry Administration.

"Xie submitted a resignation request to the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council. The request has been approved," said a joint circular from the general offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the Chinese cabinet.  

Xie is blamed on a toxic chemical spill that polluted a major river in northeast China which inflicted several days of water stoppage.

A November 13 chemical plant explosion in Jilin city spewed cancer-causing benzene into the Songhua River, and Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province on the downstream of the river, had to suspended its water supplies to millions of its residents for four days .

The benzene spill on Friday was lengthening and slowing down as it flowed toward Russia. China has apologized for this pollution accident and offered Russia with pollution monitoring equipment and other materials.

A circular from the State Council said the environmental administration underestimated the serious consequences likely to be arising from the pollution and was held responsible for the huge losses from the pollution accident. Xie took the blame and asked to quit. 

"It should bear due responsibility for the losses caused by this incident," the circular added.

Xie, born in 1949, is a native of Tianjin. He became chief of SEPA in 1993.

Zhou, also born in 1949, is a native of Wuzhong, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China.

The State Council announcement also says that Jia Zhibang, former vice-minister of civil affairs, has been appointed director of the State Forestry Administration.

   上一页 1 2 3 下一页  



Fire kills 5 in Northeast China
Aerobatics show in Hunan
Final rehearsal
  Today's Top News     Top China News
 

Australia, US, Japan praise China for Asia engagement

 

   
 

Banker: China doing its best on flexible yuan

 

   
 

Hopes high for oil pipeline deal

 

   
 

Possibilities of bird flu outbreaks reduced

 

   
 

Milosevic buried after emotional farewell

 

   
 

China considers trade contracts in India

 

   
  EU likely to impose tax on imports of Chinese shoes
   
  Bankers confident about future growth
   
  Curtain to be raised on Year of Russia
   
  Coal output set to reach record high of 2.5b tons
   
  WTO: China should reconsider currency plan
   
  China: Military buildup 'transparent'
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Harbin cuts water supply for pollution fear
   
100 tons of chemicals flowed into river
   
Commentary: Cover-up can't hide murky water truth
   
China's premier visits waterless city
   
Wen visits Harbin; Russia offered sorry
   
Water supply restored to parts of Harbin
   
Toxic spill heads for Russia, China offers help
   
Toxins make second China city cut water
Manufacturers, Exporters, Wholesalers - Global trade starts here.
Advertisement