Report warns of pressure on resources in N China

BEIJING - A research report released on Tuesday warned of growing pressure on essential resources in a densely populated area in north China.

With a population of 104 million, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei province region is currently facing grave tensions in water supplies and garbage processing, according to a blue book issued by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

In Beijing, per capita water resources stood at 119 cubic meters in 2011, much lower than the internationally recognized water shortage warning line of 1,000 cubic meters, according to the report, which added that Tianjin and Hebei face a similar situation.

It revealed that 18,300 tonnes of garbage were disposed of every day in Beijing in 2009, but the daily processing capacity was just 12,700 tonnes at that time.

The report forecast that Beijing will have to allocate another 213 hectares of land to bury additional garbage by 2020.

It also touched upon the unbearable air pollution and traffic congestion in Beijing, which have seriously affected people's living conditions.

Meanwhile, the size of the population in the region, which is already contributing to these issues, will further expand, according to the report.

It estimated that the region will be home to 112 million people by 2015, but the ideal capacity should not exceed 98 million.

In the meantime, the region will see tough employment conditions and social security pressure from the expanding and aging population, it noted.