Environmental Protection Attempts in the Early Days …
103
Heavy Machine Tool Plant, Wuhan Boiler Plant, and Wuhan Turbine Engine Plant
were also built in a newly planned suburban industrial area. Considering industrial
pollution problems in the factory area, the logistics and dormitory area of WISCO
was located five kilometers away from the factory site, with a green isolation belt
between the two areas. During the period, in order to collect first-hand data on
environmental pollution, the health departments of a few cities such as Beijing and
Chongqing carried out surveys on pollution sources and environmental conditions.
For example, in 1954, 1955, and 1956, Chongqing conducted a survey to collect data
on water quality, pollution and self-purification capacity of the Chongqing section
of the Yangtze River and the Jialing River, as well as the pollution of the two rivers
caused by industrial waste. It also collected data on dust, toxic gases, production
noise and industrial wastewater. We could say that Chongqing was a pioneer city
in environmental monitoring in China. In terms of environmental management, the
“three simultaneous” system on environmental protection in construction projects
(i.e., environmental protection facilities and the main part of the construction project
should be designed, constructed, and put into use at the same time) proposed after
the first National Environmental Protection Conference in 1973 began to come into
shape. In July 1957, the Nanjing Municipal People’s Committee issued a circular
requesting that new factories and mines should consider measures to treat wastewater and waste gas in the design stage, and send design drawings and related materials to the relevant authority for approval. It can be said that the idea of the “three
simultaneous” system originated from this requirement, but unfortunately this policy
document was shelved. Environmental monitoring is an important means to understand environmental conditions in a timely manner and support informed decisionmaking concerning pollution prevention and control. In the 1950s, Shanghai, Zibo
and other cities began to carry out various environmental monitoring activities, but
the results were less than satisfactory. However, it was the beginning of environmental
monitoring work in China.
To prevent urban environmental pollution, some central cities made great efforts
to dredge rivers and relocate polluting enterprises. For example, from 1949 to 1952,
Beijing repaired more than 220 km of old sewers and removed 160,000 m
3 of silt
from old ditches, including the famous Longxu Ditch. In September 1950, the Beijing
Municipal People’s Government decided to move all factories using or producing
flammable and explosive materials to the southern suburbs or other areas. In 1951, it
decided to relocate the timber factory near Yongdingmen and the leather factory in
the downtown area to the southern suburbs, and relocate factories using or producing
inflammable and explosive materials to Shazikou, Dahongmen, and Tiejiangying
areas in the southern suburbs. From 1949 to 1953, Fuzhou dredged 22 rivers, dug
out a total of 360,000 m
3 of sludge, and cleared 572 ditches. The Patriotic Hygiene
Campaign launched in 1952 played a huge role in improving the urban environment.
In terms of the prevention and control of urban pollution, in addition to wastewater and
waste gas management, cities such as Beijing, Nanjing, and Qiqihar issued policies
and regulations specifically for the prevention and control of noise pollution. For
example, in October 1953, the Beijing Municipal People’s Government issued the
Circular on Reducing Urban Noise Pollution; in July 1954, the it issued one more
103
Heavy Machine Tool Plant, Wuhan Boiler Plant, and Wuhan Turbine Engine Plant
were also built in a newly planned suburban industrial area. Considering industrial
pollution problems in the factory area, the logistics and dormitory area of WISCO
was located five kilometers away from the factory site, with a green isolation belt
between the two areas. During the period, in order to collect first-hand data on
environmental pollution, the health departments of a few cities such as Beijing and
Chongqing carried out surveys on pollution sources and environmental conditions.
For example, in 1954, 1955, and 1956, Chongqing conducted a survey to collect data
on water quality, pollution and self-purification capacity of the Chongqing section
of the Yangtze River and the Jialing River, as well as the pollution of the two rivers
caused by industrial waste. It also collected data on dust, toxic gases, production
noise and industrial wastewater. We could say that Chongqing was a pioneer city
in environmental monitoring in China. In terms of environmental management, the
“three simultaneous” system on environmental protection in construction projects
(i.e., environmental protection facilities and the main part of the construction project
should be designed, constructed, and put into use at the same time) proposed after
the first National Environmental Protection Conference in 1973 began to come into
shape. In July 1957, the Nanjing Municipal People’s Committee issued a circular
requesting that new factories and mines should consider measures to treat wastewater and waste gas in the design stage, and send design drawings and related materials to the relevant authority for approval. It can be said that the idea of the “three
simultaneous” system originated from this requirement, but unfortunately this policy
document was shelved. Environmental monitoring is an important means to understand environmental conditions in a timely manner and support informed decisionmaking concerning pollution prevention and control. In the 1950s, Shanghai, Zibo
and other cities began to carry out various environmental monitoring activities, but
the results were less than satisfactory. However, it was the beginning of environmental
monitoring work in China.
To prevent urban environmental pollution, some central cities made great efforts
to dredge rivers and relocate polluting enterprises. For example, from 1949 to 1952,
Beijing repaired more than 220 km of old sewers and removed 160,000 m
3 of silt
from old ditches, including the famous Longxu Ditch. In September 1950, the Beijing
Municipal People’s Government decided to move all factories using or producing
flammable and explosive materials to the southern suburbs or other areas. In 1951, it
decided to relocate the timber factory near Yongdingmen and the leather factory in
the downtown area to the southern suburbs, and relocate factories using or producing
inflammable and explosive materials to Shazikou, Dahongmen, and Tiejiangying
areas in the southern suburbs. From 1949 to 1953, Fuzhou dredged 22 rivers, dug
out a total of 360,000 m
3 of sludge, and cleared 572 ditches. The Patriotic Hygiene
Campaign launched in 1952 played a huge role in improving the urban environment.
In terms of the prevention and control of urban pollution, in addition to wastewater and
waste gas management, cities such as Beijing, Nanjing, and Qiqihar issued policies
and regulations specifically for the prevention and control of noise pollution. For
example, in October 1953, the Beijing Municipal People’s Government issued the
Circular on Reducing Urban Noise Pollution; in July 1954, the it issued one more