Chinese authorities apprehended and detained 24 people who held an anti-incinerator protest on Saturday.

There were more than 1,000 people from Bolou, Guangdong province who joined the rally, intended to show their strong opposition to the proposed construction of the facility. The residents said they deemed the construction to be a threat to the environment. Furthermore, they said it could affect the health of locals in and nearby the planned construction site.

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Those who protested have caused disturbance in social order and were arrested and detained, reported state-backed China Daily. The report continued citing authorities saying the protest has also caused heavy traffic jams in the area. The authorities also said they would deal accordingly with those who broke the law and surrendered or notified others in a period of 3 days.

The newspaper cited the authorities saying, "The protest was organized by a handful of lawless people and participated in by people who did not know the truth." A resident of the Huizhou city, Bolou county said they are in fear of the dangers that could come along with construction of the garbage incinerating facility. He also said it would pose environmental issues and health concerns among locals.

The authorities told the newspaper that the site for the incinerator has not been chosen yet.

Meanwhile, officials from the government came to Bolou to meet with around 30 locals on Sunday, according to a report from Xinhua. The officials discussed the construction with the residents and heard their suggestions and opinions, the report added.

There were about 90,000 protests and demonstrations in China in 2006 with participants carrying such issues as pollution, corruption, land grabbing and other concerns. People from eastern China also protested on building a trash incinerator last May and clashed against the authorities, said a report from Reuters.

TagsBolou county, China Daily, garbage incinerator, Xinhua, Huizhou city, Reuters