Eighty percent of the sewage in China's capital will be properly
treated by 2005 thanks to a huge treatment project launched?in
Beijing?on Friday.
The project was jointly launched by state-owned Beijing Drainage
Group (BDG) and Beijing City Water Service Company (BCWSC),
involving an investment of 1.9 billion yuan (about US$237.5
million) to construct three sewage treatment facilities in the next
two years.
By the end of 2005, Xiaohongmen, Qinghe and Beixiaohe sewage
treatment factories will start operating and increase the rate of
treated sewage from the 50 percent to 80 percent.
Under the cooperation agreement signed Friday, BCWSC will invest
850 million yuan (US$103 million) with the rest being financed by
BDG through loans.
BDG chairman Tu Zhaolin said the financial arrangements
symbolized the municipal government would not have to finance local
sewage treatment projects, leaving more space for market
forces.
Beijing produces 1.2 billion cubic meters of sewage annually,
which used to be handled mainly by public enterprise.
The Ministry of Construction encouraged investment from various
sources to participate in construction, operation and development
of public service projects early this year.
Vice-Mayor of Beijing Liu Zhihua said encouraging market forces
to enter public services such as sewage treatment would greatly
enhance the quality of the service.
(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2003)