China to Relocate 15,000 from Lead-Poisoned Area
It has been announced that 15,000 Jiyuan residents will have to relocated after 1,000 children were discovered to have lead poisoning. From AFP:
Authorities in central China plan to move 15,000 residents away from smelting plants in the area after nearly 1,000 children tested positive for lead poisoning, state media said on Friday.
Zhao Suping, mayor of Jiyuan city in Henan province, said the mass relocation would cost one billion yuan (146 million dollars), the official Xinhua news agency reported.
Zhao said 70 percent of the cost would be borne by the local government and the smelters responsible for the lead poisoning, while local residents would foot the rest of the bill, according to Xinhua.
