Yuanmingyuan gets a 40-day ultimatum
(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-05-10 17:33

The national environmental protection authorities have given 40 days for the administrators of the old Summer Palace to submit an environment impact report on its lake seepage prevention project.

The park would then have to pay a heavy penalty fine, up to 200,000 yuan, if they fail to table the assessment report, according to a report in Beijing-based Fazhi Wanbao (Legal Evening News).

Late last year, the park management started a massive project of the water systems, drying up the lakes and beginning to cover the lakebed with anti-leak plastics. In early April when the project was almost finished, an environmental protection expert discovered and exposed this project, saying the project would cause an environment disaster to the park.

The project hit headlines of national newspapers and aroused a hot debate among the public. The State Environmental Protection Administration weighed in, ordering a halt of the project last month and organizing a hearing to solicit opinions and comments on the project.

However, nearly a month has passed since the project was stopped, the park management have not yet submit the environment impact assessment report.

Zhu Hong, deputy director of the park management, said they are unable to find any institution willing to do the assessment. "I have no idea if we could submit a report as required, but we are keeping trying," referring to the 40-day ultimatum.

According to law, if it fails to present the report within the 40-day limit, Yuammingyuan would have to face a fine of 50,000 to 200,000 yuan, and its management teams would be subject to administrative punishments.

Experts say it usually needs one or two months to finish any environmental evaluation report, and even a simplified report will take about 20 days. The park management seem running out of time to complete such a report within the required time limit.

The lakes in Yuanmingyuan Park in northwestern Beijing were covered with impermeable membrane to maintain the water level, and the park administrators said the project was meant to save water.

But the plan was slammed by some environmentalists who said sealing the lakebed could have a disastrous effect on local ecological system.

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