April 16, 2008

Beijing plans to stop construction during Olympic Games

BEIJING

Beijing will implement a series of temporary measures to stop construction and close heavy industries, all aimed at cleaning the city’s notoriously polluted air when the Olympics begin in four months. All digging and pouring of concrete on construction sites will be suspended from July 20-Sept. 20, the city’s Environmental Protection Bureau said.

Nineteen heavy-polluting companies also have been told to cut their emissions in the same period by a further 30 per cent.

Pollution — in addition to the violence in Tibet and other human rights issues — has been a major concern for China before the Games. The International Olympic Committee has said it will postpone outdoor endurance events of more than one hour if the air quality is poor.

The Capital Steel Group in west Beijing has been told to reduce emissions, and production will be halted at the Eastern Chemical Plant of Beijing Eastern Petrochemical Co. Coal-burning boilers that fail to meet emission standards will also be shuttered.

Du Shaozhong, deputy director of the environment body, said production would be stopped at cement plants, concrete mixing plants and cement grinding plants in southeastern Beijing. Quarrying operations will also be stopped.

Du said specific details to remove vehicles from Beijing’s streets would be announced later. Officials are expected to ban about half of Beijing’s 3.3 million vehicles during the Aug. 8-24 Olympics.

Print | Email | Comment