Beijing moves to curb prolonged haze pollution

BEIJING - Choked in dense smog for three consecutive days, Beijing started emergency response measures on Sunday to curb the air pollution at hazardous levels.

Monitoring data showed the Air Quality Index in most parts of the capital reached 500, the maximum pollution level, on Sunday, the third hazy, grey day.

Emergency response measures were adopted on Sunday in some areas to deal with the heavy pollution, a senior official with the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau said.

Outdoor sports activities for primary and middle schools were ordered to be halted from Sunday to Tuesday in extreme pollution areas, including Tongzhou, Miyun, Daxing, Mentougou and Fangshan districts, the municipal authorities said.

Construction was suspended at 28 construction sites and 54 businesses reduced their emissions by 30 percent, with Beijing Hyundai Motor Company halting production on Sunday, the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau said.

Fourteen inspection teams were dispatched to 14 districts and counties to oversee the pollution-reduction measures on Sunday, the bureau added.

We recommend:
Mainland, Taiwan airlines sign co-op contract	Great changes in Zhengzhou railway station	Wanda Group ventures onto the global stage
Sports car makers look to mainland market	Top Ten Economic Events in 2012	'Gold road' laid with gold bars