During an inspection conducted by the National Environmental Authority in December 2015, it has discovered that nearly 650 companies in 59 cities are emitting excessive pollution. Due to this, the agency has vowed to implement more severe punishment this year in accordance with the latest air pollution control law.

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According to the head of the Environmental Inspection Bureau, Zou Shoumin, in December, during the team's monthly inspection, which targets companies that release air pollutants, the team found that excessive emission is a huge dilemma in the 59 cities examined. Of the 648 companies checked, inspectors discovered that 31 directly gave off pollutants in the air or did not comply to installing required facilities to lessen pollution.

The inspection covered the northeastern, central, southern, and northern regions, such as Guangdong, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Sichuan provinces.

Five of the polluting establishments provided heating services to Xianyang, Jilin province, Shaanxi province and Changchun. 

Zou revealed that all polluting companies received "tough punishment." For instance, an iron mine company was fined for its pollution on a daily basis, amounting up to 4.82 million yuan ($733,000). Daily fines is stipulated in the Law on Environmental Protection as this is deemed one of the powerful tools.

From January to November, the ministry and local offices checked nearly 1.6 million companies across China. In the first 11 months of 2015, approximately 51,000 companies were exposed. Also, a total daily fine of 485 million yuan has been collected from more than 600 pollution-emitting companies.

The Law on Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution was implemented on Jan. 1. The deputy head of the Pollution Control Bureau Wang Jian stated that the agency will emphasize the role of local governments in protecting air quality and the tougher punishment for violators and polluters.

TagsPollution, china, Law on Environmental Protection