$146m for cleaning Dianchi

KUNMING: The local government yesterday announced it would allocate 1 billion yuan ($146 million) to clean up the Dianchi Lake, one of China's most polluted bodies of fresh water.

In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Kunming Mayor Zhang Zulin said the "Dianchi pollution control project is on top of the city's agenda this year".

"The heavily polluted lake is an eyesore in Yunnan province, and cleaning it up has been one of the most difficult problems for the country," Zhang said.