Inspite of all recent pollution control measures, the Beijing skyline is still hazy and the smog refuses to lift. With foreign journalists pouring in and opening of Olympic Games just round the corner, Chinese government is gearing up to impose more strict measures even during the Games. The measures which will be invoked only in ‘extremely unfavourable weather conditions’ were posted on the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection Website on Thursday.
Administration are battling polluted air since 1st of July. In the first round 300,000 high polluting vehicles were banned. Then alternate day driving restrictions were imposed. The traffic restrictions alone have removed nearly two million vehicles within city limits. More restrictions means more innovative way to restrict vehicles. Right now odd number (license plate number) vehicles can hit roads on odd days and even number vehicles on even days. Further refinement would be a vehicles with number plate ending in nine cannot drive on Aug 9 or Aug 19. Many heavy polluting factories were shutdown in last one month. Around 105 more factories could be forced to close down.
Rains have brought hope of sky’s clearing up before the Games. Environmental officers claim that pollution has dropped by 20 percent due to all these efforts. But pictures which foreign journalists are sending home say a different story. Anyways, let us all hope sky does clear up. And all polluted cities of the world learn important lessons about controlling pollution and cleaning city air from China.
Source: NY Times