Government to look into major chemical explosion/river pollution case

China's State Council established a special team to look into a major explosion of a chemical plant in northeast China's Jilin Province and its consequent pollution of the Songhua River.

The investigation team will try to find out who should be held responsible for the explosion that occurred in a chemical plant under the Sinopetro Jilin Petrochemical Industry Group, in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, and the consequent river pollution that had forced Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province, to stop water supply for four days.

It will give proposals on the case to the central government after an overall investigation.

Li Yizhong, minister of the National Bureau of Production Safety Supervision and Administration, heads the State Council investigation team with seven minister-level officials.

The team has three groups, responsible for technical, administrative and comprehensive matters. The Supreme People's Procuratorate has also sent its representative to the team.

Source: Xinhua