Ministry sets a 3-year cleanup goal

Seven campaigns to be launched, including one aimed at black water

The head of the newly established Ministry of Ecology and Environment is emphasizing its role as a supervisor and vowed that improvements to the environment would be "obvious" in three years through at least seven specific campaigns.

"The basic responsibility of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment is supervising," Minister Li Ganjie said in an interview with People's Daily. The ministry will emphasize strengthening four major duties - drafting ecological and environmental policy, monitoring and assessment, supervision and law enforcement and inspection - Li said.