China mulls amending water pollution law

BEIJING -- China has included an amendment to the Law on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution in its future lawmaking plan, according to a senior legislative official.

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"In order to cope with the new tasks and requirements of water pollution control, the top legislature has listed amending the law in its work plan, and related research is underway," said Xin Chunying, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

Promulgated in 1984, the law has already been amended twice in 1996 and 2008, but the law has weaknesses in areas which include inadequate efforts, high enforcement costs and insufficient sanctions for violations.

A string of water pollution incidents have aroused serious concerns across China. The latest occurred last month in Lanzhou, capital city of northwest China's Gansu province, as excessive levels of benzene were detected in the city's tap water.

"Our water pollution prevention and control is in such a severe situation because people don't do things in accordance with science, laws and the rules of nature," said academician Qian Yi with the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

According to Qian, legislative efforts should focus on ensuring a sound water environment and the safety of drinking water while reducing emissions from pollution sources.