A total of 1,095 companies in central China's Henan Province will be closed in the near future for discharging liquid wastes exceeding set standards, according to local environmental protection departments.

Of the total, 451 companies are compelled to shut down before June 25.

According to the provincial environmental protection departments, water at some reaches of the Yellow and Huaihe rivers was heavily polluted by sewage discharged by the companies along them early in this year.

Investigation on pollution in the Huaihe River showed that some local companies often suspend their sewage processing facilities, leaving liquid wastes directly discharged into the rivers, aiming at maximum of profit.

There also have been some others still without a sewage processing facility, said the environmental protection departments.     

In order to quickly improve environmental conditions of the province, the local government launched a drive on April 20 this year to disclose the cases of companies discharging pollutants and demand them to close for rectification.

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2004)