The controversial environmental protection project in Yuanmingyuan garden in Beijing's western suburbs finally came to a conclusion Monday as the garden administration started to remove the plastic membrane from the lake bed, the Beijing News reported Tuesday.

A working staff member of the garden administration surnamed Tang was quoted as saying that the reconstruction work was performed with the permission of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA).

The renovation work in the Fuhai and Changchunyuan gardens was already in full swing on Monday afternoon despite the rainy weather.

At Yichunyuan garden, workers of the garden were busy setting up rail fences as the preparation for the imminent reconstruction.

According to the workers in the garden, the reconstruction work will follow the procedures of weeding, scooping up sludge, removing the plastic membrane, putting earth back and refilling the lake with water.

Tang said they will grow lotus on the renewed lake bed.

Yuanmingyuan, the emperor's private pleasure garden, was founded in the early 18th century and was once known as "Versailles of the East." In 1860, it was overrun by the British and French infantry.

The garden's lake has been dry for seven months each year, leading to the death of many aqueous organisms and vegetation. In order to keep the lake water flowing, the garden administration had to put water three times a year into the lake.

The administration started a project last year to install plastic sheeting at the bottom of the lake in the garden to prevent water from leaking into the ground.

But it has evoked wide criticism for stopping the natural water recycling process and reducing the lake's self-cleaning capability.

The SEPA halted the project on March 31 and hosted a public hearing on whether the project was legal or not, which led to the reconstruction project Monday.

However, delegates from Yuanmingyuan's administration office argued that the project, aimed at saving water, was not blind to the ecological expense.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2005)