Fund to curb rural pollution

The central government is allocating a special fund of 500 million yuan to improve the environment in about 700 villages this year, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) said yesterday.

The fund will also have local investments of about 1 billion yuan. It is expected to benefit over 4 million rural people, MEP said in a statement on its website.

About 600 villages facing severe environmental problems will receive 450 million yuan from the fund, and over 100 villages aiming to become ecologically sound will be rewarded with 50 million yuan.