High standards ahead of second import expo
Two urban management and law enforcement officials in Zhaojia Village in Minhang District on Monday.
Shanghai's urban management and law enforcement authorities are fully prepared for the upcoming second China International Import Expo with illegal stalls closed down, unauthorized structures dismantled and illegal outdoor advertisements cleared.
A total of 3,571 irregularities regarding a CIIE-related environment facelift were identified by the Shanghai Urban Management and Law Enforcement Bureau during inspections between January and August, and more than 1,600 involving illegal vendors, illegal structures and signboards have been rectified, the bureau said on Monday.
The rest will be fixed before mid-October, it said.
Among 186 irregularities in terms of unauthorized outdoor advertisement boards and random disposal of garbage inside key areas of the CIIE, 158 have been fixed, and the rest will be rectified before the end of September, the bureau said.
"The city's urban management and law enforcement will center on the 88-square-kilometer key area of the CIIE, 90 main streets, 35 landscape areas, 80 hotels, seven transport hubs and other major traffic trunks in the city in the next stage," said Xu Zhihu, director of the bureau.
"Intelligent urban management ways will be introduced to improve efficiency, and day-and-night patrols will be implemented during the event," said Xu.
"Irregularities such as unlicensed stalls and distribution of advertisement flyers will be spotted immediately and stopped once they are found," he said.
"The goal is the highest standard of urban management and best environment," he added.
Inspections will be beefed up in areas near the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Qingpu District where the expo will be held, traffic hubs, tourist attractions and business areas, Xu said.
Emergency drills will be conducted and urban management and law enforcement authorities will implement 24-hour working during the CIIE, he said.
"A long-term supervision and management mechanism will be established on problems with a large number of residents' complaints such as illegal construction and structures, illegal street vendors, damaging load-bearing structures of housing, and random disposal of garbage to avoid the return of long-rooted irregularities," said Xu.
More than 52,000 illegal structures covering a total of 17.54 million square meters were dismantled between January and August across the city, the bureau said.
Between January and August, 26,063 cases involving illegal street vendors were busted.
Another 224 cases involved changes of housing by shops, and 271 over damaging the appearance of housing were cracked down on. Another 3,200-plus cases of illegal outdoor advertisement facilities were tackled by the bureau. In total, 766 illegal outdoor ad facilities had been dismantled, and 9,659 illegal signboards on shops were cleared during the period.
In addition, 9,720 cases involving the illegal treatment of construction waste and 52 of burning garbage outdoors were busted citywide.
Huacao Town in Minhang District ,near the key Hongqiao business area which is close to the venues of the second CIIE, has taken on a refined and meticulous approach to improves the environment.
Since last year, the town has fixed about 500 public sanitation and environment problems for the event. Greenery has been lifted, roads have been given a facelift, and structure facades have been refurbished.
Nearly 300 old store signboards on seven CIIE key roads, such as Beidi Road and Beishen Road, have been replaced with new ones.
In recent years, illegal structures totaling more than 3.3 million square meters have been dismantled and 67 dirty river courses cleaned in Huacao.
At Huacao Town's Zhudi demonstration area, a "road chief" mechanism has been introduced.
Fourteen urban management and law enforcement officials serve as "road chiefs" on 14 streets, coordinating traffic, greenery and public sanitation, road maintenance and other staff to ensure a supreme environment and orderly management.
Urban management and law enforcement work stations aimed at enhancing community management and raise enforcement efficiency have been established in all 30 neighborhood or village committees in Huacao, and officials can arrive at the scene within two hours of receiving complaints from residents.
Xupu Village, a watertown that had degenerated into an dingy open-air landfill over the past few years and later underwent a dramatic facelift is the epitome of Huacao's urban management and governance.
Once filled with illegal structure and floating garbage, the town is now shaded by lush trees and beautiful greenery.
Zhaojia Village in north Huacao, which was in a similar situation, also launched a campaign against illegal structures with 592 dismantled in six months, significantly improving the previous dirty environment.
The village also started to become a "beautiful village" with landscape improvements, residences refurbished and the unique flavor of a Jiangnan (south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River) watertown maintained.
In addition, sewage pipes were renovated and rivers dredged. A "river chief" was appointed to ensure a clean water environment.
Now, Zhaojia Village has an enchanting view featuring traditional Jiangnan-style houses with white wall, black tiles and rich greenery.
Its Zhudi Old Street near the National Exhibition and Convention Center and Hongqiao traffic hub dates back more than 300 years.
Illegal buildings, old facilities and overhead cables had seriously affected its environment for years. After a facelift, it has a brand-new look with building facades refurbished, greenery increased, overhead cables moved underground and illegal structures dismantled.
Two urban management and law enforcement officials on an inspection tour in Zhaojia Village in Minhang District on Monday.
Two urban management and law enforcement officials carry out an inspection at Zhaojia Village in Minhang District on Monday.
Zhaojia Village
Zhaojia Village
