Since July 12, the Chinese government has dispatched a number of inspection groups to examine provincial environmental protection work. So far, over 1,300 people and several enterprises across eight provinces have been held accountable for violating environmental protection regulations.

A total of 449 people in Henan province were found liable for violations at the end of July. By Aug. 8, Jiangsu province had imposed disciplinary sanctions on 291 people. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region each also held over 100 people accountable.

Illegal discharge of pollution by large enterprises is one of the top offenses being inspected. Several cities in Jiangxi province were found to be engaging in such illegal activity. The inspection revealed an electroplating operation in the city of Shangrao that operated only at night, and without any pollutant disposal facilities whatsoever. Inappropriate waste discharge in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was also found to be affecting the region's air quality.

According to statistics from Henan province, 53 percent of reported cases concerned industrial pollution, while another 11 percent involved household pollution like garbage, cooking oil fumes and construction dust.

Tough penalties have been put in place for guilty parties identified during the inspection process. In addition to stopping the illegal disposal, many companies were also given financial penalties. The fines involved in 616 closed cases in Jiangxi province reached a total of 18.69 million yuan. Another 8.83 million yuan in fines were given out in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

The heads of three factories in Liangyungang, Jiangsu province are being prosecuted for illegal waste discharge and the illegal disposal of hazardous waste.