China: Harbin Xiaoling Cement in Heilongjiang province has taken the environment ministry to court after its approval to operate was rejected following complaints by residents. The cement company’s representatives say the ministry was wrong to overrule a decision by the local authorities in 2011 that granted approval for production at the plant, according to the South China Morning Post.
The ministry took action following complaints by residents about noise and dust pollution. They argued that residents living within 500m of the plant should have been relocated following the recommendation of an environmental review conducted when the plant expanded production in 2009. However, the cement plant has countered that it was built in 1932, whilst the area was under Japanese occupation, before any resident moved to the area.