The Land Expropriated by Waste – A Story of a Long Fight against Chemistry Tycoon
Nature University, China Xie Xinyuan 2013.11
Background › In
1988, Qihua PVC Plant made a “requisition” on 1294.4 mu (86.3 ha)of land in Yushutun Village in Qiqihaer City (Northeast China)
› This
land was then used for storage of wastewater!
Background › In
2001, 2 mu of land was submerged by electric lime sludge released by the company. › “To support the production of Qihua PVC Plant”, committee in the village leased 428.6 mu (28.6 ha) of land to the company. Electric lime began to pile up on the land, without any anti-seepage measure.
› After
many years, the wastewater has become a lake; and the electric lime has grown into a little hill. › Quite visible observed from satelite.
› The
villagers have never stopped fighting since 428.6 mu of land was leased, because they had thought the contract referred to only 2 mu of submerged land.
› At
least 3 departments in charge are responsible in the case: › › ›
Environmental protection: illegal release of sludge and wastewater Land administration: illegal occupation of farmland, especially arable land Agriculture: loss of crops in the land around the pollution source
› Their
cases have never been filed in the local court, whether administrative or civil, since Wang Enlin sent his petition for the first time in 2002. › Since 2004, his land, located in downstream of the waste lake, has become unproductive.
› With
such large amount of land occupied by pollutants, the company is subject to crimes of environment pollution and illegal occupation of farmland › The prosecution is difficult because too many departments are relevant and fail to fulfill their responsibilities.
› As
Nature University involved in the case, we went to the village on May 16 to test the water and soil around the pollution source. › ›
Hg in waste lake: 0.23μg/L Salinity in surface of soil: 38.87g/kg
› Local
EPB tested the ground water in 2010, only Cl exceed the limit
› As
we targeted some typical pollutants of the plant (Mercury, Petroleum pollutant, Vinyl Chloride, Hexachlorobenzene, Polychlorinatedbiphenyls), we invited independent monitoring institute to sample and test the wastewater and the sediment in the waste lake. ›
Hg in sediment: 20.9 mg/kg (20 times as Level 2 of the soil quality standard in China)
› We
invited a villager, Wang Baoqin, to our EIA forum in June and September, and helped her to write requests for information disclosure.
› The
villagers negotiated with their town chief, who initially did not listen to their argument and now began to help them to file their case in the face of the monitoring report. › But the secretariat of the village committee still stand in their way since she could lose her power if the villagers win the case.
› We
also write an open letter to the manager of ChemChina, parent company of Qihua PVC Plant
› The
villagers are facing natural disaster (flood and snow) this autumn and winter. We are also helping some of the poorest villagers with donation.
Thank You!