BEIJING, July 21 -- The Ministry of Environmental Protection is encouraging Chinese citizens to report officials failing to fulfill their duty to higher authorities.

"Citizens, legal entities and other organizations have the right to report local government organs at all levels which have failed to fulfil their duty in accordance with the law to higher authorities or supervisory organs," a new regulation released by the ministry on Tuesday said.

Titled "Measures for the Public Participating in Environmental Protection", the document "supports and encourages" the public to "supervise environment-related public affairs."

Whistleblowing channels include mail, fax, e-mail, telephone or government websites.

In the document, the ministry urged authorities receiving such complaints to protect whistleblowers' lawful interests, investigate in a timely manner and inform them of how the matters are handled.

The regulation, which will take effect on Sept. 1, called on special funds allocated as rewards for key whistleblowers.