Kaoline plant to blame for river pollution in S. China: environment authorities

Kaoline plant to blame for river pollution in S. China:environment authorities

GUANGZHOU, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A kaoline plant is to blame forwater pollution that caused death of huge amount of fish in southChina's Guangdong Province, local environment authorities confirmedMonday.

Huazhou-based Deying Kaoline Plant has been illegally discharginguntreated acid waste water to the Longwo River close to the villageof Longtan, the Guangdong Provincial Department of EnvironmentalProtection said in a statement after an investigation.

Local residents complained on Sunday via Internet postings thathuge amount of fish died as a result of water pollution.

The postings also said thousands of residents along the riverwere affected by the pollution, and some began to store up bottledwater.

The provincial environmental protection department has sinceordered the local government to halt the discharging of waste waterfrom the plant and use lime to neutralize the contaminated water.

By Monday evening, water quality in the Longwo River has beenimproved and the Hedi Reservoir, a drinking water resource in thelower reaches of the river, is in normal condition, said thestatement.

The Guangdong provincial environmental monitoring center alsoenhanced surveillance on water quality in the area, it said.