China mulls amending water pollution law  

水污染态势严峻 中国拟再修水污染防治法

全国人大常委会法工委副主任信春鹰8日在“纪念水污染防治法颁布实施三十周年座谈会”上表示，为了从制度上更有效地应对水污染防治的新任务和新要求，水污染防治法的修改列入了十二届全国人大常委会立法规划。[查看全文]

China has included an amendment to the Law on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution in its future lawmaking plan, according to a senior legislative official.

"In order to cope with the new tasks and requirements of water pollution control, the top legislature has listed amending the law in its work plan, and related research is underway," said Xin Chunying, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

Promulgated in 1984, the law has already been amended twice in 1996 and 2008, but the law has weaknesses in areas which include inadequate efforts, high enforcement costs and insufficient sanctions for violations.

A string of water pollution incidents have aroused serious concerns across China. The latest occurred last month in Lanzhou, capital city of northwest China's Gansu Province, as excessive levels of benzene were detected in the city's tap water.

"Our water pollution prevention and control is in such a severe situation because people don't do things in accordance with science, laws and the rules of nature," said academician Qian Yi with the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

According to Qian, legislative efforts should focus on ensuring a sound water environment and the safety of drinking water while reducing emissions from pollution sources.