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Grievances and protests staged by more than 500 residents near a solar panel factory in East China's Zhejiang Province has forced the plant to shut down and deal with pollution it has caused in its vicinity. The protesters gathered outside the Jinko Solar Holding Co Ltd and aired their complaints and disapprovals last week. The Shanghai Daily reported on Monday that local government in Haining City held New York-listed solar equipment plant responsible for discharging contaminated water into a local river system that has killed large numbers of fish. Lately, rumors were running that “dozens of people” in Hongxiao Village of Haining had contracted cancers, including leukemia, because of drinking the contaminated water. Also, police has detained a man for spreading the rumors on the Internet. The newspaper quoted Haining officials as saying that there were four cancer patients in the village reported last year and two this year, as contrast to the rumor claiming that 31 villagers had contracted cancers. Because of the rumors, more than 500 villagers went to the factory Thursday night demanding an explanation, the Haining government said. Some protesters even charged into the factory compound, overturning eight company vehicles and ransacking offices. On Friday, four police vehicles were damaged by the protesters, The Shanghai Daily reported. Video footage posted on the Haining municipal government's information office website showed the factory's smashed windows, while dozens of police patrolling and maintaining order near the solar plant. It is reported that the factory's waste disposal system has been failing pollution tests since April. Despite warning from the relevant authorities, the plant had not effectively controlled the pollution, Xinhua News Agency cited Chen Hongming, deputy head of Haining's environmental protection bureau, as saying. Toxic waste from the plant, which manufactures photovoltaic panels, cells and wafers, contained excessive fluorine, The Shanghai Daily reported. A 64-year-old Hongxiao villager surnamed Shi told The Associated Press not only did the factory discharge waste water into a river, it also spewed dense smoke out of a dozen chimneys. "An elementary school and a kindergarten are located less than a kilometer from the plant. My house is only about 500 meters from the plant. Many fish died after the factory discharged waste into a small river," Shi said. "The villagers strongly request that this factory be moved to another area. I am very worried about the health of the younger generation," he said. A number of people suspected of theft and vandalism during the protest have been caught by police. The incident was the latest major environmental protest in China. Last month, 12,000 residents in the northeastern city of Dalian protested after storm waves broke a dike at a chemical plant and raised fears floodwaters could release toxic chemicals. Officials have pledged to relocate the plant. |
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