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Chemical plants dismantled after river pollution

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-24 14:38

NANJING -- Workers dismantled a pharmaceutical factory Friday in Jiangsu Province, the last of 34 chemical plants near a river that was contaminated two months ago.

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Workers entered Lufeng Biological Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. in Yancheng City on Thursday and had demolished all of its major production facilities by Friday noon.

It is the last of the factories designated for demolition by the municipal government after a chemical plant in the city's Yandu District illegally dumped the disinfectant, phenol -- used in the production of resins, plastics and pharmaceuticals -- into the city's water source, the Xinyanggang River, on February 20.

Water supplies were suspended for three days, affecting more than 200,000 residents.

Seven officials, including two in charge of environmental protection, were removed from their posts or given administrative and disciplinary punishments.

The city made the decision to dismantle 34 of its 317 chemical plants early last month. Some of the plants will be compensated for their forced relocation, and those with outdated production facilities will be closed.

Police have detained the legal representative and the manager of the responsible chemical plant, the Biaoxin Chemical Company.