TV show exposes illegal rubbish dump at village

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Local authorities started actions to clean up the stinky illegal rubbish dump, covering an area of about 66,700 square meters, at a village in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province.

The move happened after China Central Television (CCTV) reported the case on Friday night, in a bid to urge the local government to solve the fetid nightmare of residents at Zhoudu Village in Chengdu’s suburban Shuangliu District.

The rubbish dump in Zhoudu Village, southwest China's Chengdu. /Screenshot

Villagers told CCTV that once a limpid pond surrounded with cultivated land, the area has been turned into a five-meter high rubbish tip for years. It was piled up with trash such as plastic bags, chemical products and construction wastes. In spite of repeated complains by the residents, no action had been taken by authorities to improve the situation.

The site does not only stink, but is also dangerous. The pond, which looks similar to a wasteland, can easily kill anyone who happens to step into it. Under the flat yellowish water, the pond was filled with deep mud.

The stinky pond. /CCTV Photo

Besides, the rubbish dump could breed ground for massive swarms of mosquitoes in summer with the rising temperatures.

Furthermore, the area is near a river, which means the rubbish could cause severe pollution to the nearest branch of Jinma River during the wet season.

The rubbish dump. /CCTV Photo

Within hours after the report was aired, local authorities dispatched over 100 clean-up workers, 50 excavators and trucks to clean the area, Sichuan Daily reported. The number of workers and excavators are continuously increasing.

An official from the local environmental protection bureau told Huaxi Metropolis Daily that the waste would be classified and transferred to a power plant or landfill, while the pond water would be processed down the track. Workers from the local Center for Disease Control were also sent to kill the mosquitoes.

Workers clean up the area. /Sichuan Daily Photo

Investigation over the case is underway. Several suspects have been detained by police.

China's central authorities unveiled a three-year action plan to improve the rural living environment in February. The plan lists some key tasks including garbage sorting, toilet upgrades, residential sewage treatment and village management.

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