Environmental governance aims to kill pollution not enterprises

THE MINISTRY OF ECOLOGY and Environment said it is planning to ban local governments from suspending the operations of enterprises ahead of an inspection. Beijing News comments:

Some local governments openly implement two sets of environmental policies. They tighten up their prevention measures and control of the polluting industries immediately before an inspection team arrives. Then, after the inspectors leave, the polluting industries, usually big contributors to the local economy and thus the local government's tax revenues, will resume their production.

Ridiculously, some local governments have even closed down roadside eateries, laundries and car washes to make the cities look clean and tidy during the inspectors' stay, turning a deaf ear to local residents' complaints about the inconvenience caused.