(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-14 14:53

BEIJING - Beijing Vice Mayor Niu Youcheng said the city plans to shut down 80 mines this year to boost the quality of environment in the national capital.

In a report to the 38th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress on Thursday, Niu said upon completion of the plan, 70 percent of the city's mines would have been closed by the end of the year.

In his report, Niu also pledged to shut down more energy consuming and environmentally polluting enterprises in the city.

The city government has set aside 360 million yuan (US$45 million) for repairing ecological environment in closed mines, half of which will be afforested, according the vice mayor.

Beijing embarked on a campaign in 2001 of closing small mining and processing ventures that had an adverse impact on the ecological environment. It has so far shut down 1,088 mines, including coal mines, iron ore mines, gold mines and cement plants.

The city also plans to construct four major household garbage treatment plants before 2010. The city will have 44 such plants capable of treating 16,510 tons of household garbage daily by 2010.