Pollution fees could become law of the land

A draft of China's first environmental protection tax law, submitted to the top legislative body for initial discussion on Monday, may impose heavier penalties on polluters than ever before.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress read the draft during its bimonthly meeting, from Monday to Saturday.

The draft designates four taxable types of pollution - airborne and water pollutants, solid waste and noise. Companies and individuals who directly discharge these would be subject to the tax, Finance Minister Lou Jiwei told the top legislators on Monday morning.