Ministry responds to possible air pollution around Beijing

China's environment authority asked local authorities to pay close attention to potential serious air pollution around Beijing and sent four inspection groups to neighboring cities to covertly search for illegal emissions.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) said local authorities should be well prepared for serious air pollution, asking them to initiate an emergency mechanism if necessary.

Zou Shoumin an MEP official in charge of environment inspection, said the ministry has sent four groups to cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiangzhuang and Langfang, to inspect local authorities' efforts in battling air pollution.

The four groups will also check air pollutant discharges from key industries, as well as dust control at construction sites and treatment of coal burning pollution, among others.

The ministry said due to pollution and adverse weather conditions, from Saturday to Tuesday, Beijing and neighboring Tianjin and Hebei may suffer heavy air pollution, with PM 2.5 the major pollutant.

Luo Yi, an MEP official in charge of environment monitoring, said conditions are expected to become better on Wednesday. Endi