Beijing Further to Closely Watch Air QualityBeijing has decided to additionally set up 16 air-quality monitoring stations to closely trace the city's air drifts of pollutants and the monitoring coverage will be further extended to such outlying suburban counties as Miyun and Yanqing.So far, Beijing has asked a loan of US$3.2m from the French government to import 16 sets of monitoring system and has had the first set of these installed in the Botanical Garden located in the Fragrant Hills of western Beijing. A linkage of the system with the city's whole monitoring net is now being expected. Beijing is the first city using automatic systems to monitor air quality. By now it has established 12 branch stations, with the farthest one in Changping. Due to a narrow coverage it still can not fully and scientifically reflect the air quality of the whole municipality of Beijing. As is reported, the first five sets of monitoring system will be installed by the end of the year while the remaining 11 will be in the coming two years. By then, Beijing will claim an air monitoring system being the largest in China. Air Quality Much ImprovedA curb must be put on air pollution as has long been demanded in Beijing. As a result of years' effort made, Beijing's air quality has been much improved. Beijing has successfully accomplished its third and fourth stage work in bringing a curb on air pollution and has by now moved on the fifth stage work for a clean air in the capital.By November 26, Beijing has as many as 309 days with an air quality above third level, or 84% of the whole year. Another 165 days claim a quality above or equal the second level, accounting for 45% of total. By PD Online staff Li Heng |
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