Pollution reduction efforts need teeth
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E-mail Xinhua, January 31, 2013
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Vehicles move slowly amid thick smog in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 30. [Chinanews.com] |
Chinese authorities need to put more stricter measures in force when talking about reducing pollution, as more than 10 percent of the country was shrouded by thick smog this week.
Looking to be determined in reducing air pollution, cities like Beijing have announced plans to shut down heavily polluting plants in urban areas and cut the number of government-owned cars running on the streets.
The moves sound encouraging, but when it comes to actual practice, much stricter supervision has to be implemented to make sure they are followed.
The very reason China is facing such a poor pollution situation is slack supervision. A relevant incident took place in early January in north China's Shanxi Province - environmental authorities did not tell the public that poisonous liquid aniline had tainted a major river until five days after it was detected.
Some experts also blame the country's oil giants for churning out substandard products that have increased pollution emissions from automobiles.
Although it is easy to blame businesses for their lack of social responsibility, the fact is that it is the government's job to keep such behavior in check, instead of just covering it up.
Some local governments fail to take pollution issues seriously, resulting in mass protests in some areas. Some governments have even attempted to silence protestors for fear of losing face and tax money.
