17 Shenzhen companies were fined nearly 1.5 million yuan
(US$188,000) for polluting the environment during the first
quarter, the environment watchdog said Thursday.
Most of the named and shamed companies were punished for
discharging untreated water.
A computer manufacturer in Longgang District received the
heaviest punishment of 250,000 yuan, and four other factories were
each fined 100,000 yuan and had their sewage discharge licenses
suspended.
Penalties for the other 12 ranged between 50,000 to 120,000
yuan.
The environmental protection bureau said it will publicize
polluters every quarter.
The bureau's spokesman said the authority expects to reduce
industrial pollution further through similar severe
punishments.
"We are also reminding other manufacturers that all polluters
have to pay for their mistakes, and none of them can escape by
luck," he said.
The computer manufacturer received its 250,000-yuan penalty late
last month for operating a 1,300-square-meter unlicensed
electroplate plant, discharging unprocessed sewage.
"The firm discharges more than 2,300 tons of sewage a day, 800
tons more than the amount allowed," the bureau said. "And the
industrial waste that built up in the open air could cause serious
pollution when it rains by permeating the soil."
The city launched tough measures against the dumping of waste
last September. Violators were ordered to publish a letter of
remorse and apologize for polluting the environment in
newspapers.
(Shenzhen Daily April 13, 2007)
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