China declares war against pollution

BEIJING - China will declare war against pollution and fight it with the same determination the country battled poverty as many parts of the country have been plagued by choking smog, according to a government work report.

The government will take strong measures to prevent and control pollution with the focus on mega cities and regions with frequent occurrence of smog, says the report delivered by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday at the annual session of the National People's Congress.

The government will start by reducing PM10 and PM2.5 emissions, and focus on improving the industrial structure, raising energy efficiency, reducing vehicle exhaust emissions, and preventing and monitoring wind-borne dust, it says.

Smog is affecting larger parts of China and environmental pollution has become a major problem, which is nature's red-light warning against the model of inefficient and blind development, says the report.

A total of 50,000 small coal-fired furnaces will be shut down this year and cleaning technologies, including desulphurization, denitrification and dust removal, will be introduced at coal-burning power plants, according to the report.

Six million old high-emission vehicles will be removed from the roads, and diesel fuel for vehicles that meets fourth-stage national standards will be provided nationwide this year, according to the report.

The government will also implement the clean water action plan, strengthen the protection of sources of drinking water, prevent and control water pollution in key river basins, and carry out land restoration, according to the report.