A pedestrian walks amid heavy smog in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 29, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]? |
Authorities in Beijing have initiated a year-long campaign to tackle air pollution and improve air quality.
As a result, the authorities will get tough on activities related to air-pollution cases in a bid to implement the newly-enacted environmental law.
The main targets of the move include bulk coal, high-emission vehicles, and pollution activities in semi-urban areas.
Zhao Zhiwei leads the municipal environmental inspection team in Beijing.
"To deal with bulk coal, administrative departments should intensify supervision on the whole process of production, transportation and sales. They should make collective efforts to crack down on illegal productivity, sales and the use of low-quality coals. We are working to reduce exhaust gas from coal burning, waste gas from volatile organic compounds or VOC, industrial emissions, and automobile exhaust. And lowering levels of these types of particles includes dust from construction sites, and outdoor barbecues and burning.
Beijing's vehicle emissions management authority says large buses, trucks, and taxis constitute major challenges.
And they will tighten controls on the emissions from these vehicles.
According to environment authorities, those who violate laws will face tougher punishments.
Mu Liang is an environmental investigator and says there have been two major changes in law enforcement during the campaign.
"The biggest change is to impose serious punishment with strict enforcement of the new environmental law. We have beefed up penalties. Second, we will increase frequency and intensity during inspections. To deal with companies who play the game of "hide and seek" with us we will intensify our inspection on them during mornings, evenings, and days-off."
The campaign will last until the end of November.