CHINA -- Recent reports reveal that most environmental reports submitted by the local government to the central government in China have been fabricated. The local reports submitted have been drafted to deceive the central environmental ministry of the country.
In 2018, The Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment has arrested hundreds of officials who failed to address pollution violations. It has been reported, there are thousands of environmental violations across the country. Particularly, in ten provinces whose problem of pollution has just gotten worse despite efforts.
Artificial diamonds manufacturer Anhui allegedly dumped wastewater and other hazardous chemicals involved in their process in areas where it is not allowed. This is one of the provinces investigated by the ministry. However, before the actual investigation began, the local officials on the province tipped off the manufacturer about the planned inspection. This is indeed the outright violation of the code of conduct, but it remains to be a country-wide practice.
In some cases, not only do the reports hide the wrong practices, but the government officials themselves tell the manufacturer what they could do to flush out all the contaminated water, which cleans up the inspection reports. Sometimes, they advise that the production be suspended just to show that they are compliant with what the regulations state. In some provinces, officials themselves forge documents to cover up their negligent practices.
The report of the ministry suggests that these ten provinces require a thorough review of the actual practices compared to what the reports of local officials contain.
Experts warn that if such violations would continue, China could lose all its natural resources sooner than they expect. The country's neglect when it comes to pollution also threatens biodiversity in the concerned areas. Destructive actions such as this could only further aggravate the negative effects of global warming.
China has expressed numerous action plans to combat pollution. However, findings show that the efforts have yet to make a dent on the country's polluted soil, air, and water. Even though President Xi Jinping has always expressed to make this happen during his term.
