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Tailings leak in NW China pollutes 346-km waterway

Xinhua, October 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

Tailings that leaked into a river in November, and since traced to an antimony processing center in northwest China's Gansu Province, have contaminated more than 300 kilometers of waterway.

The incident resulted in 61 million yuan (9.1 million U.S. dollars) in direct economic losses, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP).

On Nov. 23, 2015, tailings containing antimony spilled into Taishi River, Longnan City, increasing the concentration of the metalloid in 346 kilometers of waterway, affecting water supply for more than 108,000 people in three provinces, and around 170,000 square meters of farmland, according to the ministry.

An MEP investigation advised that those found to be negligent -- should they be from the company, the local government, a Communist Party of China (CPC) committee, or any other intermediary agency -- should be held accountable.

Moreover, in relation to the case, 11 officials, including the deputy mayor of Longnan, have been punished for violating the Party code of conduct.

The case is now in the hands of the judicial authority, which has started criminal investigation proceedings, the MEP said. Endi