Wuxi aims to become ecologically sound city

BEIJING: Wuxi, a city in Jiangsu province, has vowed to continue its efforts to clean up Taihu Lake and become China's first ecologically sound city this year.

Mao Xiaoping, the city's mayor, is determined to turn the previous manufacturing center in East China into a high-tech base with low carbon emissions and low pollution.

"Wuxi aims to form a modern industrial pattern focusing on new energy, bio-technology and pharmaceutical industry. We will also boost the development of ecological agriculture," Mao said on the sidelines of the ongoing annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC).

Already known for its booming software outsourcing business, Wuxi will also encourage other service sectors, such as design and cultural renovation, Mao said.

"We will also increase investment in environment infrastructure, and encourage private funding to build and operate sewage pipelines and treatment facilities in a bid to clean up the city's waterways," he said.

The city spent a total of 6.65 billion yuan ($980 million) to rid Taihu Lake of pollution last year. Major water pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorous dropped by 8.3 percent and 21 percent respectively from the levels in 2008.

The eutrophication index, a major measurement for the growth of blue-green algae, also dropped by 4.3 percent.

The lake was famous as one of the most scenic lakes in the country before industrial and agricultural wastes plagued the water body with blue algae.

After a serious algae outbreak in mid-2007, Wuxi started to transform its old growth mode of relying on the labor-intensive manufacturing industry with heavy pollution.

Last year, Wuxi had 341 days with good air quality, according to statistics. More than 93 percent of city residents are satisfied with the progress made on environmental protection, a recent survey indicates.

"Our plan is to pass the national assessment for an ecologically sound city in June and finally get the approval in October," Mao said.

Du Guoling, a NPC deputy from Jiangsu province, has proposed drafting and publishing a special regulation to protect Taihu Lake.

She said the most stringent environmental standards should be applied in the Taihu Lake drainage area, and law enforcement needs to be strengthened.

Currently, for some enterprises, abiding by the environmental law costs more than breaking it, she said, adding, "We have to avert this situation."