Acid rain falls on third of China

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BEIJING, China (AP) -- One-third of China's vast territory is suffering from acid rain caused by its rapid industrial growth, while officials are failing to enforce anti-pollution standards, according to authorities quoted Sunday by state media.

China's factories spewed 25.5 million tons of sulfur dioxide -- the chemical that causes acid rain -- last year, up 27 percent from 2000, said Sheng Huaren, deputy chairman of the Standing Committee of parliament.

Sheng was briefing legislators Saturday on a new report that found the discharge of pollutants by power plants and factories was rising by 9 percent a year at a time when the government has promised to cut emissions.

"Increased sulfur dioxide emissions meant that one-third of China's territory was affected by acid rain, posing a major threat to soil and food safety," Sheng said, according to the Xinhua News Agency and newspapers.

Also Saturday, Mao Rupai, chairman of parliament's environment committee, said local officials in some areas were complying with as few as 30 percent of pollution regulations.

Mao said many officials are reluctant to enforce standards for fear of harming local economic growth.

Sunday, August 27, 2006 Posted: 0304 GMT

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