Time for environmental watchdogs to bark

There is no reason for the government and environmental authority to protect enterprises but not the interests of the public in pollution cases, says an article of China Business News. Here are excerpts:

Some enterprises in Weifang, Shandong province, are reported to have discharged their polluted water into groundwater with high-pressure pumps. The municipal environmental protection authority issued urgent notices to relevant enterprises after seeing the report, warning them to prepare for more reporters and coverage.

If the enterprises really dispose of their sewage as the reports claim, they constitute big threats to public health. Their actions must be stopped and the people in charge of the enterprises must be punished.

In fact, the local environmental authority should waste no time to verify if the reports are true and check groundwater quality at once to decide further actions. If the groundwater is polluted, local public health and environmental departments must provide timely assistance and treatment for people using the contaminated water.

But the environmental watchdog is now apparently standing on the side of the enterprises that play an important role in promoting economic growth, which is the most important criterion to judge local officials’ performances.

Under this circumstance, no one will protect the interests of the public. The special relations between the enterprises and local environmental and administration authorities must be addressed as China is transforming its growth model. Otherwise, the economic growth of the country will not be sustainable and the environmental and public health costs will finally surpass the initial economic gains.