China on Monday unveiled ambitious plans to improve its capital’s heavily polluted air in time for the Olympics, including halting construction and heavy industry.
Beijing’s Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau laid out a range of tough measures to cut back pollution, such as closing numerous gasoline stations and even banning spray-painting.
The bureau’s deputy director, Du Shaozhong (杜少中), warned that even more “strident” measures would be taken if the weather was unfavorable by the time the games begin in August. The month is regarded as one of the worst in terms of pollution in the city because the air is humid and often stagnant.
Beijing is one of the most polluted cities in the world. But the authorities say they have invested US$16.9 billion to tackle the city’s infamous smog — an unpleasant combination of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter of which much is produced by the building industry.
Since last month, some types of construction work have been banned on windy days. But from July, all digging and pouring of concrete on sites will be suspended for two months.
Production will be stopped at cement, concrete mixing and cement grinding plants in southeast Beijing. Nearby quarries will also cease to operate.
About one in 10 gasoline stations will be closed at the end of next month, while many more will be fitted with devices to reduce the level of fuel fumes they produce. Outdoor spray-painting will also be banned during the period, as will spraying or painting with “harmful solvents.”
Construction of the Olympic venues is complete. But there are many private developments under way and the authorities are still working on major infrastructure projects — including subway lines and waterways — in the run-up to the games.
Last month the state news agency Xinhua reported that construction sites cover 100km2 of the capital — which is no surprise to residents, who are used to buildings being torn down and new ones erected at dizzying speed.
Nineteen heavy-polluting companies also have been told to cut their emissions by another 30 percent from July and coal-burning boilers that fail to meet emission standards will be closed.
Factories in areas surrounding the capital — including the city of Tianjin; the provinces of Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong and the huge Inner Mongolia region — will also shut down during the summer.
Officials have not yet published their traffic plans, but are expected to ban about half of Beijing’s 3.3 million vehicles during the games to reduce pollution.
They have also said they may encourage residents to take holidays, to reduce congestion.
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