According to Jiangsu reports from People.cn, reporters learned from relevant departments in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province: In response to the issues reflected in the September 7 People's Daily "Letters from Readers" article titled "Jiangsu Suzhou Section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal: Multiple Regulators Unable to Shut Down an Illegal Wharf for Four Years," the Suzhou municipal government attaches great importance to the matter and has established a special investigation and handling team to conduct an upgraded investigation. The matter will be handled in accordance with laws and regulations.

The People's Daily article stated that some internet users had reported that an enterprise had long operated an unauthorized wharf at No. 7 Chuyun Road, Gusu District, Suzhou.

In August, reporters from the People's Daily and People.cn observed the area near Baiyang Bay on Suzhou's ancient canal and found cargo vessels continuously traveling along the Suzhou section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Several cargo vessels loaded construction sand, gravel, and excavated soil along this stretch of riverbank before departing.

The report stated that a person in charge of Panfeng Renewable Resources Recycling Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Panfeng") said in an interview that the company has all required qualifications and environmental impact assessment procedures, and that all construction waste is sorted and processed. "We are currently Suzhou's largest construction waste treatment plant. Last year, we processed more than 1 million tonnes of construction waste, with revenue of approximately RMB 110 million, and paid RMB 12 million in taxes."

The Suzhou Municipal Transportation Bureau stated that Panfeng has never obtained a port operation permit covering loading and unloading operations, has never received shoreline approval, has not completed port infrastructure construction completion procedures, and has not obtained any other approvals or permits from port, waterway, or maritime authorities for wharf loading and unloading. The wharf is an "illegal loading and unloading site."

Over the years, authorities have conducted on-site enforcement dozens of times and explicitly informed Panfeng that its activities constituted "illegally conducting port operations along the shoreline." In August 2024, the Port Administration Law Enforcement Brigade of the Suzhou Municipal Transportation Bureau installed warning markers (iron posts) in waters 3 meters from Panfeng's shoreline, but encountered violent obstruction from some Panfeng employees.

In March this year, the Ninth Central Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection Team provided feedback to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui on the special inspection of ecological and environmental protection along the Grand Canal. It noted that "ecological space management and control of the Grand Canal is inadequate" and that "some port wharves have not been fully banned or demolished and continue to conduct illegal loading and unloading." However, Panfeng's business volume has not been affected.

An illegal wharf has been repeatedly reported by the public for years, and Suzhou law enforcement authorities have conducted on-site enforcement dozens of times, so why has it not been shut down? In a September 7 commentary, People.cn stated that local transportation authorities have long limited their measures against Panfeng's illegal wharf to fines. Since 2022, the enterprise involved has been fined a cumulative total of more than RMB 300,000, equivalent to only one day's revenue.

Rectifying illegal wharves must not end with simply imposing a fine. Faced with the disorder caused by an illegal wharf that has existed for four years, no matter the reason, it is not an excuse to evade responsibility or fail to act.