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The city of Chongqing is located where the Jaling River runs into the Yangtze River, in very hilly country. Chongqing, the only city in western China under the direct jurisdiction of the central government, is an important industrial and commercial center in the southwest of the country. It is also well known as a tourist destination for cruises along the famous Three Gorges area of the Yangtze River. Chongqing's wider metro area is home to around 30 million people, many of whom are industrial workers.
Chongqing exports products such as silk, citrus fruit, tea, and grain. There are also abundant mineral resources in the region, so production of trucks, motorcycles, metals and chemicals is an important part of the economy. Since most industries are powered by coal, air pollution and acid rain are serious problems.
Initiatives to control pollution in Chongqing were introduced in 1977, with regulatory requirements that new construction projects include pollution control facilities. There is also a system of levies for enterprises which exceed emission standards (as in other parts of China.) However, because of the rapid industrial expansion of Chongqing and surrounding townships, it is very difficult to achieve compliance. Recently, the government of Chongqing has shut down some of the most polluting enterprises.
A new, 10-year project (2001-2011) - Green Mountains and Rivers - is planned to improve the environment of the Three Gorges area, where the Three Gorges Reservoir is under construction. This project includes forestation efforts and the closure of smaller, highly polluting enterprises. The completion of the Three Gorges Dam, some 1000 km downstream of Chongqing, will reduce the speed of the Yangtze River, increase its water depth, and alter the flow. Chongqing will have to maintain a water quality which will avoid serious pollution of the reservoir, and it will have to make adjustments for the heightened water level.
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Chongqing Industrial Pollution Control and Reform Project - http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=104231&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P003646 - by the World Bank
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Chongqing Urban Environment Project (CUEP) -- http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=104231&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P049436 - project financed by the World Bank
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Acid Rain Control For Sichuan Province And Chongqing City -- http://www.acca21.org.cn/ppc21n6-4.html -- this project seeks to control acid rain in Sichuan province in general and Chongqing city in particular by reducing emissions of SO2
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See also China's 10 Demonstration Cities
ŠNDRC 2000-2006