Pollutants of nitrobenzene and benzene in the Harbin part of Songhuajiang River in northeast China is below national standard, according to local government sources.

A team of experts have argued that most of nitrobenzene poured into the river has either volatilized or degraded and only very little remained in ice and the river bed, and the water is safe for drinking, the circular said.

The Songhuajiang River suffered major pollution in November last year when around 100 tons of pollutants containing hazardous benzene spilled into it after a chemical plant explosion in Jilin Province.

The incident forced cities along the river, including Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province and a city of more than three million people, to temporarily suspend water supply.

Harbin officials said that tap water in the city is fit for drinking.

"We must draw lessons from the pollution in Songhuajiang River. We will fully assess the damage to environment and make an effort to prevent such accidents from happening in the future," said Du Yuxin, party secretary of Harbin.

(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2006)