The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Changjiang River Protection (Draft) was submitted on December 23 for the first time to the 15th meeting of Standing Committee of 13th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China for deliberation. The Law on Changjiang River Protection will be a law for comprehensive protection of ecological environment of Changjiang River Basin.

When making clarification for the Draft, Mr. Gao Hucheng as the Chairman of the environmental resources committee of the National People’s Congress introduced that currently hard constraint mechanism for Changjiang River ecological environment had not been established, Changjiang River protection law regime was lagged, therefore it was necessary to formulate a well-focused, special and systemic Changjiang River protection law based on the systematicity and specialty of Changjiang River Basin, so as to enhance ecological system restoration and environment governance, fully protect the ecological safety of Changjiang River Basin and promote green development of Changjiang River Basin.

The Draft is divided into nine chapters in total of 84 articles. Pursuant to natural and geographical conditions of Changjing River Basin, and on the basis of relevant 19 administrative regions that Changjiang River flows across, the Draft intends to apply itself to relevant administrative regions of county level within Changjiang River Basin. Targeting at special issues in certain regions, the Draft put forth specific regimes and measures from aspects of controlling purpose of national land spaces, ecological environment restoration, protection and utilization of water resources, promoting green development, law implementation and supervisions, etc.

With respect to legal responsibility, the Daft exclusively sets forth punishment for behaviors damaging ecological system or polluting environment; it also establishes exclusive punishment provisions for actions of illegally sands mining in Changjiang River Basin.

Source: zgsyb.com