China Offers Plan to Clean Up Its Polluted Lakes

By KEITH BRADSHER
Published: January 23, 2008

HONG KONG — The Chinese government unveiled a detailed plan on Tuesday to limit pollution in China’s lakes by 2010 and return them to their original state by 2030.

The State Council, China’s cabinet, ordered strict regulation of the release of wastewater, the closing of heavily polluting factories near lakes, the improvement of sewage treatment facilities and strict limits on fish farms, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

The council also banned the use of pesticides with highly toxic residue near large lakes as well as detergents containing phosphorus.

While national leaders in Beijing have shown greater interest in recent months in cleaning up the environment, their efforts have frequently met resistance from provincial and local officials more interested in maximizing economic growth.

Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

The algae on Lake Tai in China last year signaled a crisis that is threatening fishers’ livelihood.

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