Excessive emissions a big problem in 59 cities

The national environmental authority found severely excessive pollution emissions during inspections of 648 companies in 59 cities in December, and it promised tougher punishment this year under a newly enacted air pollution control law.

In December's monthly inspections targeting companies that discharge air pollutants, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and its inspection teams found that excessive emissions were a big problem in the 59 cities that were inspected, said Zou Shoumin, head of the ministry's Environmental Inspection Bureau, on Monday.

Among the 648 inspected companies, the ministry found 31 polluters that directly discharged pollutants into the air or did not use required facilities to reduce pollution.