(Photo/CNS)

Concentration of PM 2.5 decreased by 19 per cent year-on-year in Beijing in the first four month in 2015, according to statistics released by Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau.

The statistics also showed that concentration of SO2, NO2 and PM 10 declined by 43.1 per cent, 13.7 per cent and 12.3 per cent respectively. A total of 57 days reached the standard, eight days more than the same period of last year. Beijing sees 42 per cent decrease in number of days of heavy pollution.

According to the bureau, the decrease of PM 2.5 is the consequence of declination of use of coal. Air quality has improved this year in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. Regional heavy pollution days experience obvious decrease. Regional heavy air pollution is less frequent than before. Furthermore, weather condition is better than the same period of last year.

Li Xiang, vice director of atmospheric environment management division of Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau, said: "Efforts in reducing pollutant discharge have paid off." Last year, Beijing eliminated 476,000 aged motor vehicles and upgraded coal-fired boilers with capacity of 6,569 steam tons. And in this March, Beijing closed two coal-fired power plants.

Zhang Wangcai, vice director of energy division of Beijing Development and Reforming Commission, said: "According to the '2013-2017 Clean Air Action Plan' of Beijing, the coal burning volume will be reduced from 23 million tons of 2012 to within 10 million tons of 2017. Currently, Beijing has reduced its coal-burning volume by 7.1 million tons." 

According to Li Xiang, Beijing has identified 300 enterprises that are not in line with the function position of the capital. So far, 65 of them have been moved out of Beijing.