700 officials punished by green teams

Central inspectors take unprecedented tough action in the national fight against pollution

Up to 700 officials in eight provinces and autonomous regions have been punished by central government inspectors in an unprecedentedly tough move to strengthen the nation's environmental supervision.

In what People's Daily described as an "accountability storm" for environmental laws and rules, the inspectors have exposed about 4,000 offenses including cases of dereliction of duty since they were commissioned in mid-July.