Local govts need to be tougher on polluters

It comes as no surprise that the severe smog has dominated discussions in China's social media platforms.

It may be unfair to deny what the government has done in shutting down polluting factories, reducing vehicles on the street and encouraging the updating of pollution control equipment in polluting industries.

But no matter how much importance the government says it has attached to pollution control, no matter how many efforts may have actually been made in this regard, the heaviest smog that has extended for the longest time and covered the largest number of cities in years flies in the face of the country's fight against environmental pollution.