30 September 2013-  the MEP released the 2012 annual performance evaluation  for pollution prevention and control in key river basin areas.

The performance evaluation covered nine key river basin areas including the Huai River (which includes the east line of the South-North Water Diversion Project), Hai River, Liao River, Songhua River, Chao Lake, Dian Lake, the upper and lower reaches of the Yellow River, the Three Gorges Reservoir and the upstream, middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

An MEP official stated that the “current water situation is still grim” and admitted the evaluation highlighted several shortcomings such as:

• Non-point source pollution from agriculture which has affected a large area of land
• Inadequate piping infrastructure
• Under performance of some water treatment facilities
• Insufficient water treatment facilities
• Inadequate treatment of sludge

As a result the MEP will start suspending the EIA approval of relevant projects which do not meet the relevant assessment targets.

For the full government announcement click here (Chinese only)

For details of the MEP evaluation methodology see here, and the two key water pollution prevention and control plans check here and here (Chinese only).