Crusading Chinese official who took on polluters returns to oversee industry eco-reviews
Pan Yue took on powerfully backed interests a decade ago, holding up massive projects that skirted or failed the review system. Activists welcome his return
A top environmental protection official who once led a fierce campaign to challenge polluters backed by local governments has taken up the role again overseeing environmental impact assessments, as part of a planned overhaul of the mechanism.
Pan Yue, 55, a deputy minister for environmental protection, was put in charge of the assessments at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Southern Metropolis News reported on Tuesday.
The ministry’s general office confirmed the change to the South China Morning Post.
The ministry is pushing for a revision of the assessment law to strengthen their legal status and efficacy. On the mainland, all industrial projects must undergo the reviews – which include scrutiny of their pollution-control measures – before they can be approved.
But the system has been widely criticised for its weak implementation, poor regulation and corruption.
Many agencies that carry out the checks are known to have links with local or central environmental authorities. They are popular with developers because their connections can help secure approval, which have also made them a hotbed of graft.