Shanghai officials are applauding a new national water law that they say will help them protect the upper reaches of the Huangpu River and other waterways in Shanghai.

The new law, which came into effect yesterday, updates a law enacted in 1988 that focused on supplying water to needy areas, but didn't pay a great deal of attention to environmental protection.

The previous law, for example, gave local authorities jurisdiction over waterways in their area, but didn't pay attention to the sources of those rivers and lakes. So, Shanghai was responsibly for cleaning and protecting the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, but had no say in how the river's upper reaches, which feed into Shanghai, are maintained.

The new law will make it easier to curb the amount of waste that ends up in local rivers and reduce inefficient use of waterways, said Zhang Jiayi, director of the Shanghai Water Affairs Bureau, on the bureau's website commenting on the law yesterday.

Zhang said the new law focuses on the efficient use of water sources and emphasizes the harmonious development of China's population, its economy and the environment.

Zhang also vowed the city would crack down on companies and individuals that pollute the city's water sources. The bureau established a special force to investigate water pollution in March.

So far this year, the bureau has imposed more than 3 million yuan in fines on various polluters, Zhang said.

(eastday.com Oct 2, 2002)