Chapter 1017

The other town leaders also expressed their opinions. Most of their opinions tended to introduce this steel plant. The only one who didn't express an opinion was Comrade Comrade Comrade Qi Jian.

At this moment, Su Xinghui felt a deep sense of loneliness. This sense of loneliness was not caused by the fact that almost everyone didn't support him, but a sense of loneliness that transcended the era.

He knew that except for Tong Yuejin and Yang Huakai who opposed him for the sake of opposing him, the starting point of others was roughly good. They sincerely felt that setting up this steel plant was more beneficial than harmful. But just because of this, he felt lonely.

This represented the thinking of most government officials in this era. They all felt that it was normal to sacrifice the environment for the sake of economic development. However, was this normal? Whenever he thought of the harsh environment ten or twenty years later, Su Xinghui shuddered. Even if he was the only one fighting, he must stop such a high-pollution enterprise from settling in Pengjiawan.

Su Xinghui's eyes became more and more firm. He slowly scanned everyone present. His eyes were as sharp as a knife, making everyone who came into contact with his eyes subconsciously dodge.

Although Su Xinghui had been working in Pengjiawanzhen for less than a year, he had already established huge authority with his unparalleled work ability, outstanding work achievements, and his impeccable integrity. If Tian Xiaopeng were not here, Tong Yuejin and Yang Huakai would not dare to speak to him like this in person.

Su Xinghui said, "We want economic development, and we also want environmental protection. These two are not contradictory things. The enterprises I introduced in Menghu Ling have invested heavily in environmental protection. They don't belong to heavy pollution industries in the first place, plus perfect environmental protection facilities, they can be completely harmless. Can this be compared with this steel plant?"

"I don't oppose introducing a steel plant. If it is a short-process steel plant using electric furnace steelmaking, and there is a perfect investment plan for environmental protection facilities, I will not only not oppose it, but I will raise both hands in favor. However, for the steel plant mentioned by County Magistrate Tian, please forgive me for not agreeing to introduce it in Pengjiawanzhen. That is absolutely more harmful than beneficial to Pengjiawanzhen."

"Let me calculate an account for everyone. In the second half of this year, Pengjiawanzhen can fully develop a 100,000-mu vegetable base. The output value that this industry can bring can exceed 100 million, and this 100 million directly benefits the common people. And the pollution of the steel plant is very serious, which will have a great impact on the sales and prices of vegetables. How much loss will this cause?"

"There are also some invisible losses that are immeasurable. The wastewater and waste gas produced by the steel plant damage people's physical health. How much is the medical expenses generated by this? Have you calculated how much damage the wastewater directly discharged into the Changjiang causes to the common people along the Changjiang?"

"Perhaps, the benefits brought by this steel plant to Pengjiawanzhen are very large, but we are not only Pengjiawan people, we are also Shangjun County people, we are also Hudong Province people, we are also Chinese people. We cannot only consider the interests of Pengjiawanzhen, we must also consider the interests of the entire country. We must have a sense of social responsibility!"

Tong Yuejin interrupted Su Xinghui's words, "Then according to you, our Shangjun County simply doesn't need to attract investment for the sake of environmental protection. You want people to increase investment in environmental protection. Why would others come to us to invest? Anyone can grab it wherever they go."

Tong Yuejin's words were not wrong. A huge investment of 300 million yuan is something that someone will grab wherever it goes.

Su Xinghui said, "Town Mayor Tong, did you not hear clearly or did you not understand what I said? I also asked the enterprises I introduced in Menghu Ling to increase investment in environmental protection. Why are they willing to invest in Menghu Ling? This requires us to put in more effort, help them solve other practical difficulties, and make them feel that even if they invest more, it is worth it, rather than blindly catering to them and letting them pollute at will."

Su Xinghui's words caused some laughter at the scene, but this laughter did not ease the tense atmosphere. Tong Yuejin was red-faced and speechless.

Su Xinghui said, "Entrepreneurs are all profit-seeking. If the government allows them to pollute at will without any bottom line for the sake of introducing investment, they will certainly not invest in environmental protection facilities. But this is the government's irresponsibility to the common people. I will say it bluntly, such a government is lazy governance and an unqualified government."

Tian Xiaopeng could no longer hold back. His palm slapped heavily on the conference table, "Enough, Su Xinghui, please pay attention to your identity and set your position right!"

Almost everyone was stunned. Tong Yuejin and Yang Huakai were shocked first, and then looked at Su Xinghui with some pleasure. Let me see how you get off the stage?

Su Xinghui had no waves in his heart. He even felt some pleasure. You Tian Xiaopeng finally couldn't pretend anymore, right? He said lightly, "County Magistrate Tian means that we cannot have different opinions in front of you, and we can just listen to your one-man show, right? Do we still want to have the democratic centralism principle of our Party?"

Tian Xiaopeng said sternly, "Having different opinions is not for you to talk nonsense and attack the government at will."

Su Xinghui said, "County Magistrate Tian's gentleness finally can't be pretended anymore, right? Who did you learn the skill of labeling from? How did I attack the government? I am talking about those government officials who have no bottom line and blindly cater to investors. Does County Magistrate Tian want to match himself to it?"

Su Xinghui's words made Tian Xiaopeng shudder. Why did he get so angry? He was known for his good temper and not getting angry in front of anyone, but in front of this young man in his twenties, why couldn't he suppress his anger?

At this time, Comrade Comrade Comrade Qi Jian came out to smooth things over, "Forget it, let's not mention this matter now. It's getting late. County Magistrate, let's go to the town winery to have a look."

Tian Xiaopeng stood up and said, "Forget it, I have something to do when I go back to the county in the afternoon. I won't go to the winery. Let's go next time."

After speaking, Tian Xiaopeng flicked his sleeves and left, leaving a group of town leaders in the conference room looking at each other. After being stunned for a few seconds, Yang Huakai and Tong Yuejin hurriedly chased after him. They wanted to see Tian Xiaopeng off.

Su Xinghui had no waves on his face. He was slowly packing up his pen and notebook. Li Yongjin came over and said to him, "Town Mayor, don't get angry about this!"

Su Xinghui smiled, "What am I angry about? It's okay, don't worry."

After others left, Comrade Comrade Comrade Qi Jian sat down beside Su Xinghui and said, "Town Mayor, do you really think this steel plant cannot be opened in our Pengjiawanzhen?"

Su Xinghui nodded, "Of course it's true. Not only can it not be opened in Pengjiawanzhen, but it also cannot be opened in our Shangjun County. According to the process flow he said, the pollution is too large. This steel plant can destroy the environment of one of our towns. If we agree to introduce this project, we are the sinners of Pengjiawanzhen, and the common people will point to our spine and scold us in the future."

Comrade Comrade Comrade Qi Jian said, "Is it really that serious?"

Su Xinghui said, "Secretary, it will only be more serious than the most serious situation you can imagine. Now some local governments have gone astray for the sake of GDP. They feel that they can first develop GDP at the cost of sacrificing the environment, and then govern the environment after GDP is developed. However, this is not only at the cost of sacrificing the common people of this generation, but it will not be so easy to govern the environment in the future."

Comrade Comrade Comrade Qi Jian nodded thoughtfully.

Su Xinghui said, "This is not my imagination. There have been precedents in history. When Britain, the United States, and Japan achieved industrialization, some places such as London, Manchester, Los Angeles, New York, Osaka, etc., also had serious environmental pollution problems. Later, after decades of governance, the environment gradually recovered. Some places have caused permanent damage and cannot be restored. We cannot follow such old roads."

Comrade Comrade Comrade Qi Jian asked, "Can this steel plant also cause permanent damage to the environment?"

Su Xinghui nodded, "Of course it can. The long-process steelmaking process will produce a lot of waste slag and wastewater containing heavy metals during the steelmaking process. If it is directly stacked and discharged on the soil without harmless treatment, it will cause permanent heavy metal enrichment consequences to the soil. The crops grown on the soil in the future are all rich in heavy metals and cannot be eaten. If you want to restore it, you can only change the soil. Do you think it is possible?"

Comrade Comrade Comrade Qi Jian shook his head. Replacing all the soil in a town, how is this possible?

What Su Xinghui said was not alarmist. In several Western countries, there have been a large number of heavy metal poisoning cases, which were caused by industrial pollution, making local agricultural products such as rice rich in heavy metals such as cadmium, copper, and lead. People will get all kinds of strange diseases after eating them, suffering for life, and cannot be cured. And this soil rich in heavy metals is basically difficult to restore.

Su Xinghui said, "Secretary, you must also know what kind of harm heavy metals will cause to the human body. Do you want the common people of Pengjiawanzhen to suffer such harm? And the steel plant not only produces heavy metal pollution, but waste gas pollution is also very serious. It is possible that the sky in Pengjiawanzhen will always be gray in the future. Do you want this?"

Comrade Comrade Comrade Qi Jian was shocked and shook his head, "Of course I don't want this. Town Mayor, don't worry, I will fully support you in this matter. I will also help you persuade others."

Su Xinghui nodded gratifiedly, and the two looked at each other and smiled, having a tacit understanding. ===== CHAPTER 1019 =====