Work on chemical plant to be halted following protests

Authorities in east China said yesterday that work on a chemical plant would be halted after thousands of locals clashed with police during a protest over fears the factory would pollute the region.

In the latest environmental unrest to erupt in China, police at Ningbo city in Zhejiang province fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators on Saturday night after six days of protests over the project, protesters and online reports said.

“Following research with investors, Ningbo city has decided: (1) not to go ahead with the PX (chemical factory) project and (2) to halt advance work on the chemical refining project,” the government of Ningbo’s Zhenhai said on its website.