Xinjiang city razes chimneys for clean air

A city in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Monday razed 20 chimneys belonging to 12 highly-polluting companies.

The shutdown of the outdated capacity in Fukang City of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture will cut industrial pollutants by 4,540 tonnes a year, said Wang Zhihua, Communist Party Chief of Fukang.

Wang said the city made the move despite economic pressure and was determined to have "regular blue sky."

Culture industry parks, clean energy projects and service sector firms will be established instead, according to the official.

"The cement subsidiary brought us wealth, but the environment is more important in the long term," said Huo Qiying, who has worked for Tianlong Mining Company for 29 years.

Zhao Xuehui, deputy director of Changji environmental protection administration, said authorities in the prefecture will dismantle 243 coal-burning boilers and shut down 13 polluting projects this year. This could help cut emission of sulfur dioxide by over 7,200 tonnes, he said. Endi