Govt targets land pollution
文章来源: 文章作者: 发布时间:2009-06-09 06:57 字体: [ ]  进入论坛
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The Ministry1 of Environmental Protection is strengthening measures to hold polluting companies accountable for land pollution amid increasing public health hazards triggered by soil pollution.

They will be held responsible for land pollution, regardless of any change in their management structure, including restructuring, merger2 or dissolution.

The ministry made the announcement in a directive to local environmental protection bureaus and released it on its website on Monday.

According to the directive, "the company which inherits the debts and rights (of the polluter) should shoulder the responsibility" for providing financial assistance to restore the productivity of polluted land.

Previously3, the policy regarding enterprises whose management structure has changed was unclear.

Land pollution is an increasing concern, as it poses a threat to food security.

"Land pollution has directly led to declining food quality," Sun Tiehang, an ecologist and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told the Guangzhou-based Nanfang Daily.

The latest official figures indicate that over 10 percent of China's farmland has been contaminated.

Land pollution results in an annual average loss of 20 billion yuan ($2.8 billion), according to a report released in 2006 by the Ministry of Land and Resources.

Some 12 million tons of grain are contaminated annually4, the report said.

Pollution from heavy industry, including chemical plants, steel factories and crude oil storage facilities, plays a significant role.

Since 2006, environmental authorities have directed increasing attention to land pollution, which previously received less focus than air and water pollution.

Ma Jun, director of the Beijing-based Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, said the new directive is notable.

"It binds5 not only existing enterprises, but also those that once caused pollution."

But further clarifications will be needed, he said.

"The fact the notice failed to clarify punishments for violators may weaken its enforcement," he said.

Enforcement of national environmental regulations is weak, especially in rural areas, environmental protection authorities have said.

Yet they urge greater attention to the issue.

"Some environmental problems have become the main factors endangering the health and property security of farmers," said a notice released earlier by the ministry.

"This thwarts6 sustainable economic and social development in the countryside."

China has 7 percent of the world's farmland and is home to more than 22 percent of the global population.

 

Questions:

1. Why is land pollution an increasing concern?

2. What percent of China’s farmland is polluted?

3. What are Ma Jun’s concerns about the latest directive from the Ministry of Environmental Protection?

Answers:

1.It poses a threat to food security because it has directly led to declining food quality.

2. Over10 percent.

3. That there are no further clarifications on punishments for those who violate the directive.



点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 ministry kD5x2     
n.(政府的)部;牧师
参考例句:
  • They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
  • We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。
2 merger vCJxG     
n.企业合并,并吞
参考例句:
  • Acceptance of the offer is the first step to a merger.对这项提议的赞同是合并的第一步。
  • Shareholders will be voting on the merger of the companies.股东们将投票表决公司合并问题。
3 previously bkzzzC     
adv.以前,先前(地)
参考例句:
  • The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
  • Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿,解释原先发生了什么。
4 annually VzYzNO     
adv.一年一次,每年
参考例句:
  • Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
  • They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。
5 binds c1d4f6440575ef07da0adc7e8adbb66c     
v.约束( bind的第三人称单数 );装订;捆绑;(用长布条)缠绕
参考例句:
  • Frost binds the soil. 霜使土壤凝结。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Stones and cement binds strongly. 石头和水泥凝固得很牢。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 thwarts ba268d891889fae488d94d41e38e7678     
阻挠( thwart的第三人称单数 ); 使受挫折; 挫败; 横过
参考例句:
  • Matcham steady and alert, at a sign from Dick, ran along the thwarts and leaped ashore. 麦青机警、镇静地照着狄克向他做的手势,急急地沿着船上的座板,跳到岸上。
  • He laid himself down under the thwarts and waited, panting. 躺在坐板下面,气喘吁吁地等着开船。
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