Polluted waters
September 19, 2011
The protests against a solar plant in the east of China broke out on Thursday and continued to rage over the weekend. Some protesters stormed the compound and overturned vehicles to demonstrate against pollution that they say the plant had caused.
Locals have complained that the factory not only discharges waste water into the nearby river but also spews dense smoke out of its dozen chimneys.
On Monday, the local authorities ordered the closure of the plant, which is owned by Jinko Solar that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Firm apologizes
Haining city government said in a statement that it had ordered the company "to halt production and overhaul the production procedures that involve emission of waste gas and water."
The authorities said that tests that had been made after protesters demanded an explanation for the death of large numbers of fish in a nearby river. The results showed that the plant was emitting excessive levels of fluoride, which can be toxic in high doses.
A Jinko Solar spokesman later apologized for the trouble the company had caused and said it would take "appropriate steps" to clear up the pollution. "Zhejiang Jinko has always paid a great deal of attention to environmental issues and complies with the state's relevant demands," he told a news conference.
A few weeks ago, the authorities in the northeastern city of Dalian shut down a chemical factory after 12,000 residents took to the streets over pollution fears.
Author: Anne Thomas (Reuters, AFP, AP)
Editor: Manasi Gopalakrishnan