Coastal residents protest powerboats in Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake

On Nov 3, the coastal residents of Lugu Lake (on the border between Sichuan and Yunnan province) launched a petition against allowing all kinds of powerboats on Lugu Lake and protecting the environment of the women’s kingdom, China News reported.

According to the officials of Yunnan province, they will not consider developing powerboat business projects.

Coastal residents placed information on the Internet to call on people to sign the petition against Sichuan province to develop powerboat business projects.

“I hope that the officials will hear our voice and forbid powerboats in Lugu Lake,” said a local resident.

More than 1,000 people signed the petition on that day. “Many local residents disagreed with the development of the powerboat business. In their opinion, the development of the powerboat business will pollute Lugu Lake and hurt Mosuo culture. We don’t want anything that will hurt the future generations to happen in this place,” said a staff member that launched this petition.

According to Yunnan’s local government, Yunnan will not develop powerboat-related businesses in Lugu Lake. In recent years, Yunnan has adhered to the sustainable development of ecological culture. Among Yunnan’s nine plateau lakes, Lugu Lake’s water quality has stayed first class.

Yunnan and Sichuan have signed the Lugu Lake Protection Agreement, indicating that fuel oil boats, solar energy boats and battery boats are not allowed on Lugu Lake. Also, Yunnan and Sichuan have established a joint conference system to protect the environment of Lugu Lake.

Lugu Lake is in the centre of the Niliang Yi ethnic county of Yunnan province and Yanyuan county of Sichuan province. The lake’s shores are inhabited by many ethnic groups, including the Mosuo, Yi and Tibetan.