Liaoning fines cities for heavy air pollution

By Chen Ximeng Source:Global Times Published: 2013-12-11 0:08:02

Liaoning fined eight cities in the Northeast China province a total of 50.42 million yuan ($8.3 million) on Tuesday for heavy air pollution, the first of its kind under new regulations released last year.

Liaoning's capital city Shenyang received the heaviest fine of 34.6 million yuan ($5.6 million). The city had only three days that met official air standards in January.

The city of Anshan was fined 7.8 million yuan, Liaoyang 5 million and Huludao 3 million.

"The financial penalties are an innovation for tackling air pollution," said Xia Jun, a lawyer with the Environment and Resources Law Committee of the All-China Lawyers Association.

Most polluters are punished by their friendly local governments, he told the Global Times on Tuesday, but this time the province took that role.

"If the local governments asked for more money from the provincial government for lack of capital after the fine, then the financial penalty is meaningless," Xia said.

Fines will reportedly fund the "Blue Sky Project," an anti-pollution flagship launched in 2012 by the province.

The regulations empower the provincial authorities to fine 14 cities for excessive concentrations of PM10 (particular matter of 10 microns or less), sulfur dioxide or carbon dioxide.



 



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