Environmental cleanup in Gannan region benefit local people

File photo of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture [Photo: VCG]

The Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southwestern Gansu province is the location of major tributaries of both the Yellow and Yangtze rivers.

In recent years, local governments have been working to restore the local environment to protect the health of China's two biggest rivers.

Bordering Qinghai and Sichuan provinces in southwest China, the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is home to vast grasslands, lush forests, and beautiful waterways.

Over half of the people living in the area are Tibetan.

It was not that many years ago that the region was economically backward, with its cities and towns badly polluted, and garbage a common sight along the roadside.

Tang Foyu is a resident of Da Shaoma, a village in Hezuo city, which is the capital of Gannan prefecture.

"It was quite dirty here. We used to raise pigs at home. There was no clear division between the pigsty and our house."

File photo of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture [Photo: IC]

Starting in March 2015, local governments started a campaign to clean up the towns and cities in Gannan, vowing to clean the trash from the environment.

Huang Yamei works at a local community office in Hezuo City, the administrative seat of the prefecture.

She says the clean-up works in Da Shaoma village included road construction, separating the areas where animals live from the residential areas, and repairing the houses of the local villagers. To maintain the momentum of the campaign, the local officials praise the families who maintain the cleanest houses.

"In the beginning, local officials came to the village to do the cleaning. But after a while, local people started to clean the area on their own."

File photo of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture [Photo: VCG]

So far, Gannan government has spent around 19 million U.S. dollars in the clean-up effort. Officials are working to ensure that every part of the region is brought under their supervision.

Tashi Tsering, head of the Gannan Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, says the clean-up has helped to improve the lives of the local people.

"The clean-up has changed people's ideas, their habits, and their standard of living, and their pursuit for a better, healthier life. People now have the desire to improve their lives."

Local authorities have announced the 4.5 million hectares of mountains, grasslands and water areas in the prefecture have been totally free of trash.