The number of complaints about environmental pollution made by citizens via the hotline "12369" is increasing steadily every year, according to the office of the Leading Group for Transparency in Administrative Affairs (LGTAA).

The hotline received 331,000 complaints on pollution issues from the public in 2003, 390,000 in 2004, 420,000 in 2005 and 113,000 in the first quarter of 2006, according to the office.

The State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) asked local governments to open the hotline "12369" to receive complaints on pollution issues in 2001.

Nearly 70 percent of counties, prefectures and provinces have opened the hotline. More than 10 cities, such as Shanghai, Dalian, Changchun, Zhengzhou and Chengdu, have established emergency centers for dealing with the pollution complaints lodged via the hotline, said a LGTAA official on Tuesday.

(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2006)