Chapter 485: Concentrated Burning of Straw

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Lu Fan, accompanied by Vice Mayor Zhu Xinlan, City Government Secretary‑General Dou Zhengyang, Director of the Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau Liu Zhiyang, Director of the Municipal Natural Resources Bureau Zhao Jiakang, Director of the Municipal Forestry Bureau Pang Bowen, Director of the Municipal Agriculture Bureau Yan Chengci and others, arrived at Niutou Dian Town with Zhenping County Party Committee Secretary Wang Muyi and County Chief Cheng Qing, entered the fields, and conducted a special investigation of straw‑handling work.

The research team also inspected on site the Niutou Town Straw Recycling Comprehensive Utilization Processing Plant; Lu Fan learned in detail the plant's construction status, straw collection and storage channels, comprehensive utilization process flow, processing capacity, product usage directions, and the problems and difficulties the plant faces.

Next, Lu Fan's party traveled along national highways and expressways, examined on site the progress of land leveling and the status of straw returning to fields versus removal, and through hearing reports and field inspections, detailed the comprehensive straw management situation.

Arriving at a village field, Zhenping County Party Committee Secretary Wang Muyi reported: "Mayor, leaders, straw was once used for composting and cooking, but as living standards and agricultural levels have risen, it has gradually become 'garbage' in the fields; burning straw not only creates safety hazards but also easily causes environmental pollution.

Our county, following the City Government's deployment, vigorously promotes green recycling and reuse of straw, using methods such as returning straw to fields, power generation, and fertilizer production, to fully resolve the existing straw stock, reduce the incremental straw from agricultural production, continuously improve the comprehensive utilization level of straw, and earnestly protect the ecological environment.

At the same time, we will clearly explain to the public the hazards of burning straw, intensify publicity for comprehensive straw utilization, broaden social participation, accelerate the plant's construction progress, and ensure the comprehensive straw utilization work is well handled, concretely implemented, and yields results.

Lu Fan asked: "During policy implementation, have the public shown any resistance?"

Wang Muyi replied: "Mayor, in recent years the government has explicitly prohibited straw burning, yet some people ignore the admonition and deliberately burn crop straw, leading to incidents of assault, intentional injury, and open insult of town and village cadres; we have had to resort to legal measures, detaining and fining those who refuse to comply."

Lu Fan frowned and said: "Using straw as raw material to produce ethanol and the like both protects the environment and generates economic benefits—a win‑win worth vigorous promotion. Yet in practice we must understand the public's genuine wishes and actual needs, place the people's real and concrete interests first, make scientific and democratic decisions, so that policies align with the public's will, gain broad understanding and support, and establish a positive government image.

Comrades, the people's interests are no small matter! How can we detain and fine them over straw issues? This is a serious omission! Look, are there many crushed straw pieces in the fields now? Can they fully decompose by the time of spring plowing? Might they affect next year's grain harvest? We must not work for the sake of work!

Gu Jun, you have served as Director of the Agriculture Bureau and now have taken the county chief post, share your view!

Gu Jun thought for a moment, then glanced at County Party Committee Secretary Wang Muyi and reported: "Mayor, first, straw increases farmers' expenses to some extent. In the past, the main rural method was direct burning, which saved time and labor and allowed straw ash to serve as soil amendment. However now, even with subsidies, it remains more costly than burning, so many farmers are very reluctant.

The second issue is that returning straw to the fields can affect crop growth. Crushed straw placed directly into the soil takes time to decompose; much of it will not break down within a single winter. Undecomposed straw poses a serious threat to the growth of young plants.

Moreover, after straw is returned to the fields it easily leads to pests and diseases. Burning straw actually kills parasites hidden in the straw and fields. Now that burning is prohibited, scattering crushed straw on the ground or piling it unchanged endangers grain harvest because the eggs hidden in the straw have a high survival rate.

Lu Fan said as he looked around: "Prohibiting straw burning is a blockage; comprehensive utilization is a diversion. Improving the quality of straw removal from fields is fundamental to let farmers plant and cultivate well next year, but we must not increase their burden! Zhiyang, discuss the drawbacks of burning straw from an environmental perspective."

Liu Zhiyang, Director of the Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, replied immediately: "Mayor, burning straw releases large amounts of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, hydrocarbons and smoke, polluting air quality, harming human health and, in severe cases, causing bronchitis; it threatens traffic safety as dense smoke reduces visibility, disrupting civil aviation, railways and expressway operations; it also poses fire hazards and damages soil structure."

Lu Fan nodded and said: "Chengci, you are an 'old agriculture' figure, discuss the benefits of burning straw."

Yan Chengci, Director of the Municipal Agriculture Bureau, immediately reported: "Mayor, the high temperature from burning straw can kill certain soil larvae, insect eggs and weed seeds, thereby reducing pest damage to crops and decreasing pesticide use;

the ash produced after straw burning contains abundant potassium fertilizer, which can replace part of chemical fertilizer, lower production costs, and make the land more fertile, reducing fertilizer use;

it lessens farmers' labor intensity and avoids affecting crop growth; because straw does not decompose easily, after returning straw to fields it may form an invisible 'cover film' in the soil, preventing some crops from rooting properly and causing root rot."

Lu Fan concluded: "Burning straw has pros and cons; on one hand we must continue to advance comprehensive straw utilization and improve straw collection and storage, but it must be based on not harming the public's interests or increasing farmers' burdens, and we should strive to increase farmers' income as much as possible.

On the other hand, we can explore reasonable straw‑burning models, adapting to local conditions with organization, planning, regulations and strategies, permitting burning where sufficient safety measures exist, aiming to minimize straw's impact on people's lives, genuinely solve farmers' headaches, and reduce atmospheric pollution from straw burning to the lowest possible level.

Comrades, we must make the public's interests the starting point and ultimate goal of all work, persistently do good for the people, handle practical matters earnestly, and devote ourselves to solving difficulties.

This task is led by Mayor Zhu Xinlan; your departments should cooperate, promptly draft a feasible work plan, end the blanket ban on straw burning—burn where appropriate, and I'll take responsibility for any problems! It must not affect spring plowing!

Vice Mayor Zhu Xinlan replied: "Alright, Mayor, after returning I will convene a special meeting, invite some agricultural experts and farmer representatives, aim to produce the plan within a day or two, and then submit it to the Mayor for approval."

At three p. m., the Municipal Party Committee convened an expanded standing committee meeting.

When Lu Fan walked into the conference room with steady steps, his firm and confident figure seemed to carry an invisible force; the previous clamor instantly fell silent, participants straightened their backs, wore serious expressions, and prepared to welcome the arrival of a new era in Nanyuan!

Under everyone's gaze, Lu Fan sat upright in the center, looked around, and said: "Comrades, let's begin the meeting now!" his voice clear and strong.

Having served as County Party Committee Secretary and chaired countless standing committee meetings, Lu Fan is already well‑versed in the procedure and naturally feels no stage fright.

Sitting in this seat, Lu Fan feels the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders, a surge of duty and mission in his heart. Unlike Gan Shui County, this is the ten‑million‑population Nanyuan City, where each decision can affect countless lives; Lu Fan must face greater challenges and pressure. Yet Nanyuan City also offers him a broader stage to realize his ideals and ambitions.

From today onward, Lu Fan will work hand‑in‑hand with the city's cadres and people, unite hearts and strength to pursue development, earnestly get things done to create the future, and walk the new path of rigorous assessment!

Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee Su Xianghai reported the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission's handling opinions on Wang Haiyang, read out the Provincial Party Committee's decisions on the Nanyuan Municipal Party Committee's work, and the Municipal Party Committee work was chaired by Mayor Lu Fan.

Lu Fan said: "The Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission's filing of an investigation into Wang Haiyang fully demonstrates the Provincial Party Committee's firm resolve to strictly govern the Party and cleanse the political ecology, reflecting the Committee's strong responsibility in advancing Party conduct, clean governance and anti‑corruption struggles. I ask everyone to resolutely support and obey the Provincial Party Committee's decision, consciously use the Wang Haiyang case as a mirror, deeply learn the lessons, and earnestly make the comprehensive elimination of Wang Haiyang's negative impact a current major political task, handling it promptly, thoroughly and meticulously, to ensure the city's economic and social development continues unabated."

At the same time, everyone present must lead by example in observing all clean‑self‑discipline regulations, constantly uphold self‑respect, self‑warning, self‑reflection and self‑motivation, and guard the bottom lines in conduct, affairs, use of power and friendships.

Please everyone fulfill your respective duties, reflect the results of fully removing Wang Haiyang's negative influence in promoting economic and social development, keep a close watch on key areas and links such as economic operation, poverty alleviation, rural revitalization, innovation‑driven growth, and ecological protection, and with strong dedication and responsibility diligently accomplish all tasks.

After the meeting, the Secretary‑General of the Municipal Party Committee followed Lu Fan, requesting the Mayor's staff and office arrangements.

Lu Fan replied bluntly: "I'm temporarily in charge; the office is still at the City Government. Please make an extra effort and run a few more trips."

"Alright, Mayor, I'll bring the documents that need handling over to you in a moment."

Deputy Secretary Su Xianghai stepped forward, reporting work as he walked.

Lu Fan instructed: "Xianghai, you are responsible for the Municipal Party Committee's daily work; if any issues arise we'll communicate promptly."

Now, Wang Haiyang's several 'core troops' are understandably anxious, especially the Secretary‑General, the Organization Department Head and the United Front Work Department Head, who were personally promoted by Wang Haiyang; only they know whether there are problems.

Human affairs are myriad, all beings have countless aspects; causes yield results, each receives its own recompense.