300 thousand! Jiangsu Jingjiang Reward ＂Poisonous Land＂ Whistleblower Set a Domestic Record

　　More than two years after the "Jingjiang Poisonous Land" incident, the Jingjiang Municipal Government of Jiangsu Province issued a check for 300,000 yuan to reward Zhou Jiangang, a whistleblower of "Poisonous Land" pollution. Rewarding 300,000 yuan is an "unexpected surprise" for Zhou Jiangang, and it also sets the highest reward record for reporting environmental pollution in China.

　　The "Jingjiang Poisonous Land" incident has aroused strong social concern. In September 2015, Zhou Jiangang, a Yunnan businessman, publicly reported on the Internet that a pig farm in Jingjiang had buried tens of thousands of tons of hazardous waste underground, and the main sources of hazardous waste were two listed companies. After investigation by Beijing Youth Daily reporter, Beijing Youth Daily published a series of reports on the underground secrets of pig farms. In December 2015, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Public Security jointly supervised the case. This is also the first environmental pollution case jointly supervised by three ministries.

　　In December 2016, the procuratorate of Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province filed a public prosecution against the case, and the prosecution sued Zhou and other three people involved in the case for environmental pollution. In addition, the procuratorate conducted a public interest investigation, which led the company involved to sign an environmental restoration agreement of 190 million yuan.

　　On November 16th, a reporter from Beiqing Daily talked with Zhou Jiangang in Beijing. He said that reporting the incident affected him for more than two years, and he recently received relevant compensation, compensation and rewards. "For me personally, ‘ Poisonous land ’ The event is turned over, draw a full stop. I will return to normal life as soon as possible, and environmental protection and public welfare will continue. "

　　Talk about poison land

　　The poison has been dug up and the poison is still "healing"

　　Zhou Jiangang is the whistleblower and victim of the Jingjiang Poisonous Land incident. In February 2015, he bought a pig farm in Jingjiang. After living in the factory for a period of time, he suddenly broke out of skin diseases. After going to the hospital, he learned that it was caused by environmental stimulation. After investigation, Zhou Jiangang found that the pig farm was formerly a chemical plant, and tens of thousands of tons of hazardous waste were buried under the ground. The matter was known to the public by its report. In March 2016, Chen Mengmeng, director of Jiangsu Provincial Environmental Protection Department, introduced in an exclusive interview with the reporter of Beiqing Daily that the relevant departments had dug up more than 5,900 tons of suspected hazardous waste in the "toxic land".

　　Beiqing Daily: When was the last time you went to the original pig farm?

　　Zhou Jiangang: In October this year. I have been there two or three times in the last three months.

　　Beiqing Daily: What is the situation of that land now?

　　Zhou Jiangang: After the incident was reported, the government stepped in and dug up the toxic substances underground and cleaned them up. The whole plot has changed qualitatively. Professional large-scale equipment and pipelines for soil remediation have been installed on the ground, and many trees and grasses have been planted. The original buildings were all shoveled away, only one office building was kept, because it did not involve "burying drugs", so it was kept as an office building. There are staff on duty there to monitor the operation of the equipment. The poison has been dug up, and the poison is still "healing".

　　Beiqing Daily: Jingjiang municipal government and environmental protection department have talked with you about the restoration of "poisonous land"?

　　Zhou Jiangang: After I went back to Jingjiang, I asked all my concerns in detail. Some questions were answered in writing, and some were answered face to face. As far as I know, the testing institutions found by the government and the companies that do soil remediation in the later stage are among the top in China. The governance plan has also been introduced to me, and it is doing professional governance and repair.

　　Beiqing Daily: What is the ownership of this land now?

　　Zhou Jiangang: After I went back, I learned that this land has an observation period for restoration. From the perspective of supporting local governments to effectively control pollution, I have voluntarily given up the right to use the land, and this land has been returned to the village Committee, which will hand it over to the government to continue to repair and observe the land.

　　Talk about rewards

　　It was a pleasant surprise for me to be rewarded with 300,000 yuan.

　　After the "Poisonous Land" incident, the plot was taken over by Jingjiang Municipal Government on the grounds of "emergency avoidance", and the buildings on the ground were demolished. In the past two years, Zhou Jiangang has been observing the progress of pollution control and negotiating with the local government for compensation. Recently, the two sides reached an agreement that Jingjiang Municipal Government compensated Zhou Jiangang for more than 3 million yuan, and in addition, the government rewarded him with 300,000 yuan for reporting pollution.

　　Beiqing Daily: Did the local government compensate you for giving up the plot?

　　Zhou Jiangang: In the past three months, I left everything in the company and went back to Jingjiang from Yunnan to communicate directly with the local government. In the past, communication was not particularly smooth, always through third parties, and some information was asymmetric, so direct communication was better. After returning, I communicated with Jingjiang Environmental Protection Bureau and other departments and learned that there were some misunderstandings between them in the past. After the case happened, all the energies of government personnel were devoted to pollution control and danger elimination, ignoring the disposal of my personal property and assets. Later, they also made deployment arrangements and thought that compensation should be made. When I went back this time, the overall communication situation was still smooth. The staff and leaders of all departments mentioned this matter, and they were all active and communicated with me deeply. This land used to be worthless, but now it is valuable. The corresponding compensation made by the government was also made through formal evaluation procedures, and I was compensated more than 3 million yuan. From my point of view, as long as it is standardized, I accept it.

　　Beiqing Daily: Jingjiang Municipal Government will reward you with 300,000 yuan for reporting environmental pollution. In what form was the reward given to you?

　　Zhou Jiangang: After I went back this time, the government said that I made a great contribution from finding pollution to eliminating dangerous situations. The government recognized it very much, and it was clear that I would be rewarded heavily. After the resolutions of various departments, it was decided to reward 300,000 yuan, and then I was given a check. The check is separate from other payments and has my name on it. There was still a lot of work to be done, so there was no award ceremony. I think this kind of reward is the best recognition for me. There is no need to waste energy and resources on the ceremony. Both sides have reached a consensus on this.

　　Beiqing Daily: I remember that Jingjiang Environmental Protection Bureau rewarded you with 3,000 yuan last year. According to the "Measures for Rewarding Environmental Violations in Jiangsu Province", this is the highest reward standard. What do you think of this award of 300,000 yuan?

　　Zhou Jiangang: 3,000 yuan is a reward from Jingjiang Environmental Protection Bureau for calling 12369 hotline. This time, 300,000 yuan, the main body of the award is Jingjiang Municipal Government. My own understanding is that the government has effectively ruled out a serious hidden danger through my report and investigation. In addition, I have been cooperating with the government to deal with the polluted land, so I have the next 300 thousand yuan. This is a kind of recognition and an encouragement. Reward 300 thousand yuan, which is an unexpected surprise for me. This reward, more money and less money, is not very important to me. I can feel that the government attaches importance to environmental issues in this matter. This is a great progress, and it is also the highest reward for reporting environmental pollution in China at present.

　　Beiqing Daily: Did compensation and rewards make up for your losses?

　　Zhou Jiangang: If you make a detailed account, you may not finish it. I don’t think it is particularly important whether these amounts are high or low. With compensation and reward, I feel very gratified. I can feel the government’s positive and sunny attitude and consciousness in dealing with problems. I don’t want this to drag on for too long.

　　Talk about cases

　　"I forgive" the polluter.

　　In December 2016, the procuratorate of Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province filed a public prosecution against the "Jingjiang Poisonous Land" case, and the prosecution sued Zhou and other three people involved in the case for environmental pollution. The case has been heard in the first instance and has not yet been pronounced.

　　Beiqing Daily: What is your role in this public prosecution case of environmental pollution?

　　Zhou Jiangang: I am the victim. Is the plaintiff in criminal incidental civil action. The reason for becoming a plaintiff is that I have been damaged in property, body, spirit and other aspects, and I am a victim of "poisonous land".

　　Beiqing Daily: Have you seen the defendant? Did you communicate?

　　Zhou Jiangang: At the court, I met some defendants during the pre-trial communication. Zhou is almost 70 years old, very kind and honest.

　　He told some stories about the past and expressed his apologies. He said that he would bear the burden. From a certain point of view, there is also a historical reason for the occurrence of "poisonous land", which is well known to all. I felt sorry for him, too, and I forgave him.

　　Beiqing Daily: With the coordination of judicial organs, the company involved signed an environmental restoration agreement of 190 million yuan. What do you know about this agreement?

　　Zhou Jiangang: As far as I know, this agreement is relatively simple. 190 million yuan, mainly used to eliminate pollution and soil remediation expenses.

　　Beiqing Daily: At what stage has this case been tried? Will you participate later?

　　Zhou Jiangang: There is no verdict in the first instance. As the plaintiff of criminal incidental civil action, I reached a pre-trial settlement with the defendant. On the one hand, I sincerely understood the defendant, and the defendant also made compensation for the energy I spent for more than two years, which was also a reasonable compensation for my investment and treatment. After reaching a settlement, I dropped the case, withdrew from the case and stopped participating.

　　Beiqing Daily: How do you feel about the big environment?

　　Zhou Jiangang: I feel that in the past two years or so, the national level has paid more attention to environmental issues. "Jingjiang Poisonous Land" case is the first environmental pollution case jointly supervised by three ministries. I can feel that there is a high degree of concern at the national level. In the past two years, the state has issued relevant laws and regulations on environmental protection, which has a positive side, which is good for the people and the whole society.

　　Talk about change

　　It has become a habit to shoot pollution and call 12369.

　　For more than two years, Zhou Jiangang’s illness has not recovered and has been under treatment. Compared with the past, he has changed from a businessman who knows nothing about environmental protection to an active environmental volunteer, and it has become a living habit to shoot pollution and call 12369.

　　Beiqing Daily: What changes have you made in the past two years?

　　Zhou Jiangang: I used to be a businessman who knew nothing about environmental protection. Now I always pay attention to environmental protection. In my life, whenever I see black smoke from chimneys, sewage from rivers and garbage everywhere, I will take out my mobile phone to take photos and send them to my circle of friends, Weibo or report them to the environmental protection department in a neurotic and conditioned way. 12369 is the number I often call. This has become a habit.

　　Beiqing Daily: What is your physical condition?

　　Zhou Jiangang: I was in good health before the incident, because I lived in a pig farm for a period of time, and my skin disease broke out seriously, and my immunity was low. In the past two years, I have been treating continuously, and I have been using biological agents. Now I also cooperate with Chinese medicine and other means to regulate my body. Two months ago, my condition was serious, and now it is relatively mild, but it has not been completely eradicated. There are still some ringworm blocks on the back of hand and back.

　　Beiqing Daily: What impact did the "Poisonous Land" incident have on you?

　　Zhou Jiangang: Psychologically, I had a lot of pressure and nervousness in the early stage. Economically, I didn’t have much energy to engage in business activities in the past two years, which had a great impact on the company. Because I saw a doctor, I also spent a lot of money. Now, this matter can be recognized by the government, and the "cancer" can be eliminated, and all the previous pressures can be released. All the efforts are worth it. Compared with this result, the impact on me is not worth mentioning.

　　Beiqing Daily: Has your interpersonal relationship changed?

　　Zhou Jiangang: At the beginning, many people didn’t know the inside story and didn’t understand me. They all thought that I had made a mess and that I was against the government. With the media reports, with the official voice and affirmation of me, now everyone has a better understanding of me. I also made more friends who love environmental protection, and unconsciously became an environmentalist. I think it’s also a good thing. In my old circle of friends, many friends have become more supportive of environmental protection.

　　Beiqing Daily: What do the locals think of you when you go to Jingjiang later? What changes have taken place in the attitude of government officials towards the pollution incident?

　　Zhou Jiangang: I am more recognized by the local people. In their words, we are more knowledgeable people to find pollution. They don’t understand and don’t know what’s going on, so there is really no way. I can feel the importance of environmental education and guidance. It is more important for relevant departments to strengthen environmental education and guidance than to manage the environment. Because the former can make more people pay attention to the environment, then there will be fewer and fewer pollution incidents, and possible pollution can be cut off in the bud. When I returned to Jiangsu this time, the attitude of government workers surprised me. First of all, their attitude towards pollution is very clear, and pollution has indeed occurred, and all of them are strictly done according to standardized standards. During my stay in Jiangsu, I noticed that the environmental protection departments showed a positive attitude towards similar environmental cases.

　　Beiqing Daily: Is it a turn-over?

　　Zhou Jiangang: Personally, the "Poisonous Land" incident has turned over a page, drawing a full stop. I will return to my normal life as soon as possible, and environmental protection and public welfare will continue. The most important thing at the moment is that my personal life and company are normal. With more energy in the future, I will be a public welfare organization in Yunnan for environmental education. I hope it will come true one day.

　　Beiqing Daily: The society has been paying attention to this matter. What else do you want to say?

　　Zhou Jiangang: The media and environmental protection public welfare organizations helped me in my most difficult time. When my economy was in the most difficult time, environmentalists also launched fund-raising and borrowing activities to help me tide over the difficulties, which I can’t express with the word "thank you". But I still want to say "thank you very much". I will go on with all environmental volunteers. The cause of environmental protection has just begun for me.

　　This edition/Photo courtesy of our reporter Li Xianfeng/Zhou Jiangang