Poisonous cadmium pollutes central China river
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-01-08 11:09

A tributary of the Yangtze River in central China's Hunan Province was polluted by poisonous cadmium, according to Hunan Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau on Saturday.

The pollution in Xiangjiang River has threatened the tap water supply in Xiangtan and Changsha cities in Hunan.

The pollution was caused by improper operations of a silt cleaning project in Xiawan Harbor, said Jiang Yimin, director of the environmental bureau.

Zhuzhou Water Conservancy Investment Co. Ltd. launched the silt cleaning project on Dec. 23 in 2005 without permission from the environmental departments, according to the bureau.

The company dammed at the mounth of waste draining pipes of Zhuzhou Smeltery on Jan. 4. The water then flowed into two lakes, which contain quantities of cadmium waste from nearby plants and the water overflowed into Xiangjiang River.

The government has been taking emergency measures to counteract the pollution and the project has been suspended.