CHINA: Beijing city government reiterates its vow to combat air pollution.

Record ID: 217029

  • Title: CHINA: Beijing city government reiterates its vow to combat air pollution.
  • Date: 23rd September 2013
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 22, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) LAWYER JIA MINGRUI SAYING: "The pollution problem is at a critical stage. Taking some prompt measures is in accordance with the trend. But my personal opinion is that I don't hold positive expectation that they can tackle this issue in a short term. But I think it is
  • Embargoed: 8th October 2013 13:00
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  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Reuters ID: LVA9RHC1U6IM4LTPT8WE3Z7YFB41
  • Story Text: Beijing city government reiterated its resolution to improve air quality on Monday (September 23) after it released slew of measures to curb choking pollution problem.
    Beijing unveiled more measures earlier this month to combat air pollution, including limiting the number of new vehicles on the roads and closing or upgrading the facilities of 1,200 companies.
    Deputy chief of Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau quoted a Chinese saying that a warrior should cut off his arm after he was bitten by a snake to save his life, showing government's determination to combat air pollution.

    "Beijing Committee of Communist Party of China and Beijing Municipal People's Government made a resolution with a spirit of a warrior who cut off his arm for saving his life, to do our best to fully carry out country's air pollution protection plan with firm measures and firm target. We made and published 2013-2017 clean air action plan," he said.
    China's smoggy capital has tried everything from shutting factories to a massive subway building program as it battles a severe air pollution problem, but with little apparent effect.

    "I think we will include limitation of cars on road based on the last digit of license plate number, shut-down of companies that emits pollutants and closure of primary and elementary schools as emergency measures," said Rong Jun, member of Beijing Traffic Committee.
    The Chinese government has been increasingly alarmed by social unrest caused by environmental disasters and threats to public health, often the result of breakneck industrial expansion and mass migration to new cities.

    "The pollution problem is at a critical stage. Taking some prompt measures is in accordance with the trend. But my personal opinion is that I don't hold positive expectation that they can tackle this issue in a short term. But I think it is possible to do that with various measure in a long term or after several years," said a lawyer Jia Mingrui.

    "For example, environmental protection authorities should have strong and firm measures when deal with companies that emit pollutant. Some factories that not meet requirement should be shut down or received more sever punishment. In that case, I think that will lead to a good result. Government should have a bigger resolution," said resident Kang Yimei.
    The latest measures are part of a broader plan to reduce the Chinese capital's density of harmful particles in the air by at least 25 percent by 2017.
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