Greenpeace investigated coal ash pollution from the Shentou number two power plant. It claims the site has no safeguards such as retaining walls, that would stop the coal ash from entering surrounding agricultural land. Greenpeace says the only preventative measure taken by the power plant has been to compact the outermost coal ash to form a makeshift dam. The surrounding villages have been seriously polluted. In Shuimotou, continuous seepage of coal-ash water has deformed the foundations of village houses, causing cracks to develop in their walls. In another nearby village, Mayi, leakages from ash ponds have raised the groundwater and flooded cellars; their cattle and sheep have difficulty reproducing and their fields are no longer fertile. A spokesperson for the company said it had paid compensation to villagers

Photograph: Zhao Gang/Greenpeace