Red light not green light real issue for today

Environmental ombudsmen of the central authorities reported on Dec 1 that three artificial lakes covering a total area of about 150 hectares in a scenic zone in Zhangye, Northwest China's Gansu province, had not obtained approval from the higher authorities before being constructed by the local government in 2011.

The lakes, which have become a must-see for visitors to Zhangye, are now located in the center of the scenic zone that has gradually formed around them, which attracts not only large numbers of waterfowl and migratory birds, but also tourists. The scenic zone is one of the largest public parks in the city, which is home to 1.12 million residents. Its environmental and social benefits to the city have left local residents in no doubt that they were a worthwhile investment.

Despite this, what raised the eyebrows of the inspectors is that if a larger region beyond the city is taken into consideration, the three sizable lakes seem a little incompatible with the regional environment because they consume large amounts of water every year. Zhangye has a temperate arid climate, with annual precipitation of only 100-250 millimeters, but the annual evaporation is as high as 1,400-2,700 mm. That's why the municipal authorities jumped the gun in their construction in a bid to justify the means with the ends.