Kunming, Yunnan -- Five people have been arrested over a Chinese chemical company's dumping of carcinogenic industrial chemicals that could pollute the water sources for tens of millions of people, local authorities in southwestern Yunnan Province said Sunday.
The five suspects include a deputy general manager and an employee of Luliang Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., a general manager with Sanli Fuel Co. Ltd. in neighboring Guizhou Province and two carriers, Chen Jun, deputy mayor of Qujing City, said at a press briefing.
Three other suspects, including the general manager of Luliang Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. and two employees from a coal company, were released upon bail pending trial, according to Chen.
Luliang Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. was found to have illegally dumped over 5,000 metric tons of chromium-contaminated waste near the Chachong Reservoir and on hills of Qilin District in Qujing from April to June.
Rainfall in June washed some of the chemicals into local water supplies and caused 77 cattle to die.
As the Chachong Reservoir and its downstream river feed the Pearl River, one of China's longest waterway, the pollution scandal sparked fears that it could threaten the water sources for tens of millions of residents downstream.
A further investigation by local environment watchdog also revealed that nearly 150,000 metric tons of waste were piled inside the company, which is located by the Nanpan River, raising concerns over the pollution to the river through leakage.
The vice mayor said the Qujing municipal government would complete decontamination treatment of the waste by the end of 2012.
