Ensure safe water supply for affected Chinese, Russian residents

BEIJING, Dec. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- A Chinese environmental official has urged relevant departments and local governments to continue monitoring and control of water pollution in the Songhua River to ensure safe water supply for Chinese and Russian people living in the affected areas.

International cooperation and scientific research should be carried out to get ready for cleaning up the polluted water, said Zhu Guangyao, deputy head of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), Wednesday.

The official, who heads a State Council group in charge of monitoring and water pollution prevention in the Songhua River, urged relevant departments in Jilin and Heilongjiang, the two affected provinces, to join hands in dealing with the river pollution.

Efforts should be made to ensure safe drinking water supply for residents and animals in both cities and rural areas, he said.

A chemical plant blast occurred on Nov. 13 in Jilin City of northeast China's Jilin Province, causing river pollution with benzene spills. It has forced Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province, to stop water supply for four days