Prosecutors fast-track pollution case in east China

The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) has pressed local prosecutors to fast-track a pollution investigation in east China's Anhui Province, an SPP statement announced Monday.

China's national broadcaster CCTV reported in June that a river near an industrial park in Chizhou City, Anhui is heavily polluted, cutting off the water supply for many nearby farms.

Local prosecutors looked into the case immediately after the media report and opened a joint investigation with the environment department and police, according to the SPP statement.

Investigations into eight local firms found that a chemical company and a pharmaceutical company were discharging unprocessed waste water into a nearby river.

Evidence suggested that the two companies may have broken criminal law. Local police have opened a criminal case against the chemical firm and the Chizhou procuratorate has also started to investigate possible graft, according to the SPP.

The SPP has instructed the provincial procuratorate to closely follow the development of the case and fast-track prosecution if the evidence is solid, the statement said.

The SPP also informed the Ministry of Environmental Protection about the case and requested its assistance.