The video conference on arranging Huaihua’s work for cooperating with the Central Special Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection (Photo/Wu Tao)
The video conference convened on the afternoon of October 15. Wei Zhaohui, secretary of the Huaihua Municipal Party Committee, attended and addressed the meeting. She stressed the need to thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, earnestly follow the deployment requirements of the Third Central Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection Group, the Hunan Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Government. With an extremely responsible attitude and the courage to tackle tough issues, we shall fully support the special inspection. We will adopt the most robust, targeted measures to screen, regulate and rectify pollution problems in karst caves, sinkholes and valleys.
The meeting conveyed and studied the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions as well as relevant higher-level meeting requirements. The Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning and the Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment arranged relevant work. Representatives from Xupu, Yuanling and Zhongfang counties delivered speeches.
Wei emphasized supporting the special inspection constitutes concrete action to implement Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions. It represents political, ecological and conduct-related answers we must deliver. We should raise our political standing, cooperate with the inspection with the firmest resolve, and adopt an extremely rigorous, meticulous and pragmatic work style to ensure all tasks are carried out in detail and produce tangible outcomes. We must safeguard our hard-won reputation as an ecological high-performer. Through concrete actions, we shall fully appreciate the decisive significance of the Two Establishments and resolutely uphold the Two Maintenances.
Wei underscored three key campaigns. First, it is the comprehensive screening drive. In strict compliance with national and provincial technical assessment standards, existing cave sites shall be re-compared, re-identified and re-reviewed. We shall standardize the establishment of one file for one cave and an integrated cave mapping system, ensuring swift, full-coverage screening without missing any site. Second, it is the decisive campaign for problem rectification. For ongoing rectification tasks, we will set tight timetables and pursue progress against visual work charts. For completed rectification, comprehensive follow-up reviews shall be conducted to consolidate outcomes and prevent problem relapses. We must resolutely oppose formalism and press ahead with rectification during inspection in a targeted, science-based and law-abiding manner. Third, it is the long-term campaign for source-based regulation. Long-term management and protection mechanisms shall be put in place to mitigate risks of illegal sewage discharge and waste dumping into karst caves, sinkholes and valleys at source. We will leverage technological advances to transform management of these landforms from passive response to proactive prevention, and from manual patrols to smart governance. Responsibilities must be enforced, accountability chains tightened, public participation encouraged, disciplinary requirements strictly observed, and formidable joint forces mobilized for solid implementation.
Sub-venues were set up in all counties and county-level cities and districts. Municipal leaders including Zhou Zhongyan, Zuo Hong, Wu Hanming, Zhang Gong, Hu Heping and Xiang Rulian attended the meeting.
(Translated by Tian Xia)