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Third order to halt rail link is ignored
By Wang Qingchu |
September 28, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA'S first high-speed passenger railway, which links Jiaozhou and Jinan in the eastern Shandong Province, is still running despite repeated orders by the environmental authority to halt operations.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection asked the operator for the third time in April to suspend the service by the end of May as the project was launched before consideration of an environmental impact assessment - the first time the high-speed rail pride of China had violated environmental protection rules.
Although the ministry threatened to apply for a court order and publicize the case, the operator refused to stop the service, according to Oriental Morning Post.
"It is such an important rail artery. We cannot just stop it hastily," Wang Yafei, an official in charge of publicity at Jinan Railway Bureau, told the newspaper.
Wang indicated the service would not be stopped without an instruction from the Ministry of Railways.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection has issued two previous suspension orders, in September 2009 and November 2010. Each time they were ignored.
Since construction of the project began four years ago, residents in a complex beside the railway have complained of noise, dust and structural problems caused by vibration each time a bullet train passes.
According to the ministry, residential buildings and schools within 30 meters of the railway should be relocated. Some residents who said their apartments were only 10-30 meters from the track demanded to be relocated and compensated.
Residents also alleged construction of the project was launched before a land authority permit had been granted.
Some residents have compromised and signed compensation deals with the railway operator.
Each household was given 20,000-30,000 yuan and had to agree not to seek further compensation or file more complaints.
The high-speed rail link was jointly funded by the Railway Ministry and the Shandong government. It was completed before Qingdao Olympic Regatta in August 2008, the newspaper said.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection asked the operator for the third time in April to suspend the service by the end of May as the project was launched before consideration of an environmental impact assessment - the first time the high-speed rail pride of China had violated environmental protection rules.
Although the ministry threatened to apply for a court order and publicize the case, the operator refused to stop the service, according to Oriental Morning Post.
"It is such an important rail artery. We cannot just stop it hastily," Wang Yafei, an official in charge of publicity at Jinan Railway Bureau, told the newspaper.
Wang indicated the service would not be stopped without an instruction from the Ministry of Railways.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection has issued two previous suspension orders, in September 2009 and November 2010. Each time they were ignored.
Since construction of the project began four years ago, residents in a complex beside the railway have complained of noise, dust and structural problems caused by vibration each time a bullet train passes.
According to the ministry, residential buildings and schools within 30 meters of the railway should be relocated. Some residents who said their apartments were only 10-30 meters from the track demanded to be relocated and compensated.
Residents also alleged construction of the project was launched before a land authority permit had been granted.
Some residents have compromised and signed compensation deals with the railway operator.
Each household was given 20,000-30,000 yuan and had to agree not to seek further compensation or file more complaints.
The high-speed rail link was jointly funded by the Railway Ministry and the Shandong government. It was completed before Qingdao Olympic Regatta in August 2008, the newspaper said.
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