Environmental NGO sues polluter
Updated: 2015-03-26 07:42
(China Daily/Xinhua)
|
|||||||||
An environmental federation is suing an industrial polluter in Shandong province for damages from air pollution.
It is the country's first environmental lawsuit under a new law that took effect on Jan 1.
On Wednesday, the Intermediate People's Court in Dezhou, Shandong province, confirmed that it had accepted a lawsuit filed by the All-China Environment Federation. In it, the federation demanded 30 million yuan ($4.8 million) compensation for damages from air pollution discharged by Zhenhua Co, an affiliate of the Dezhou Jinghua Group.
The case arose after Zhenhua Co, which produces glass, neglected warnings by environmental watchdogs that it was emitting excess sulfur and dust.
The company was placed on a blacklist by the Ministry of Environmental Protection in October last year after failing to treat the emissions.
Experts from the federation received several strong complaints from residents living near the company's plant, which regularly discharges foul-smelling yellow smoke.
"Neither fines by the local environmental watchdog nor the blacklist warning by the ministry pushed the polluter to take effective measures in pollution control. The litigation is a new attempt to check headstrong violators like Zhenhua," said Ma Yong, a litigation director with the federation.
It is the first case since amendments to the Environmental Protection Law were enacted by China's national legislature in April that made it much easier for environmental NGOs to file lawsuits against polluters for the public good.
Fu Qiang, a lawyer with the Shandong Pengfei Law Firm, said big industrial polluters are often protected by the local government, which makes pollution control difficult.
The federation's involvement has also triggered more government efforts.
The Dezhou city government has urged Zhenhua Co to immediately overhaul emission treatment facilities to meet pollution control requirements before the end of the month or it would be ordered to suspend production on April 1.
- China's environment watchdog to exit from evaluation services
- New environment chief vows to throttle emissions
- National environment watchdog delegates more assessment approval power to provincial authorities
- Heavy fine on air polluter
- Jail for sewage sludge polluter
- EU sues 9 members for ignoring polluter-pays law
- Your city in the shape of tiny round planet
- Families mourn victims of Airbus A320 crash
- 38,000 Brazilian troops to safeguard 2016 Rio Olympics
- Chinese investors well received
- Top 9 cities in China with highest cost of living
- Would you take a challenge for charity?
- Snow blankets Chicago after spring storm
- Haze descends on Paris
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Spring Festival trends reflect a changing China |
Patent applications lead the world |
BC lures Chinese tourists |
Festival Special: Apps that make holiday shopping easier |
Alibaba places China smartphone business bet with $590m Meizu deal |
Today's Top News
China, US work to clear legal hurdles
Cockpit voice recorder of crashed German plane found
US states reach out to China
Chinese investors well received
US states seek China ties at investment summit
Small US businesses using RMB for transactions: Survey
Iconic Chinese play hits America
Christie's has richest Asia Week
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |