Three regions to coordinate checks

The heavily polluted cluster of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei kicked off its joint supervision on Friday with regular meetings and frequent inspections, a mechanism expected to reduce the region's smog, especially from vehicle exhaust.

The environmental protection bureaus of the three areas will conduct coordinated inspections in the region to maximize the efforts to control illegally polluting companies, a statement released by the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau said on Friday.

The three will hold regular meetings, exchange monitoring information and cooperate in investigating the major polluting cases in the region, it added.