Provincial workers helping to clear the air

The arrival of a central inspection team resulted in four weeks of intense physical and psychological stress for Zhao Zhenwei, head of the environmental supervision bureau in Heilongjiang province.

On July 19, the team officially started its month-long operation in Heilongjiang. "(It was) a surprising and swift inspection, and also the first thorough environmental survey conducted by such a high-level squad in the last 20 years," said Zhao, who has worked for the bureau since 1993.

During those four weeks, the inspections became the top priority for Zhao and his coworkers. They were tasked with leading teams to support the central inspectors by explaining their demands to relevant departments and local governments, collecting related materials and conducting coordination work.