Dense fog in northern and eastern China reduced visibility to less than 50 meters and disrupted traffic in some areas on Sunday.&nbsp;

On Sunday morning, Beijing Meteorological Observatory issued a yellow alert against fog, which led to the shut down of several expressways in southern Beijing including the Beijing-Kaifeng, Daqing-Guangzhou, Beijing-Tianjin, and Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao lines.&nbsp;

Poor diffusion of air was considered as one of the main reasons behind the pollution. The weather department predicted that the situation of heavy fog will continue till Tuesday.&nbsp;

The average concentration of PM2.5, a deadly pollutant, in downtown Beijing reached 163 micrograms per cubic meter, which falls under the category of high pollution.

In Heibei province, a visibility of less than 50 meters was observed in some areas, which led to the closure of expressways and affected flights to and from the region. A red alert against fog was also issued by the local meteorological department.&nbsp;

The entire Longkou City of Shandong Province in east China has been engulfed in heavy fog since Saturday night as the visibility dropped to less than 200 meters. It is expected that the fog in Longkou will last through the whole Sunday.&nbsp;

The menace of pollution has over the years greatly affected the residents of Beijing despite the city expected to move out of the world's 200 most polluted cities. In winters, when the condition of air pollution worsens, most of the people in Beijing are seen wearing masks.&nbsp;

However, according to new research, several lives were saved in China because of the implementation of policies to control air pollution.&nbsp;

(with inputs from Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Dense fog in northern and eastern China reduced visibility to less than 50 meters and disrupted traffic in some areas on Sunday. On Sunday morning, Beijing Meteorological Observatory issued a yellow alert against fog, which led to the shut down of several expressways in southern Beijing including the Beijing-Kaifeng, Daqing-Guangzhou, Beijing-Tianjin, and Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao lines.

Dense fog in northern and eastern China reduced visibility to less than 50 meters and disrupted traffic in some areas on Sunday. On Sunday morning, Beijing Meteorological Observatory issued a yellow alert against fog, which led to the shut down of several expressways in southern Beijing including the Beijing-Kaifeng, Daqing-Guangzhou, Beijing-Tianjin, and Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao lines. Poor diffusion of air was considered as one of the main reasons behind the pollution. The weather department predicted that the situation of heavy fog will continue till Tuesday. The average concentration of PM2.5, a deadly pollutant, in downtown Beijing reached 163 micrograms per cubic meter, which falls under the category of high pollution. In Heibei province, a visibility of less than 50 meters was observed in some areas, which led to the closure of expressways and affected flights to and from the region. A red alert against fog was also issued by the local meteorological department. The entire Longkou City of Shandong Province in east China has been engulfed in heavy fog since Saturday night as the visibility dropped to less than 200 meters. It is expected that the fog in Longkou will last through the whole Sunday. The menace of pollution has over the years greatly affected the residents of Beijing despite the city expected to move out of the world's 200 most polluted cities. In winters, when the condition of air pollution worsens, most of the people in Beijing are seen wearing masks. However, according to new research, several lives were saved in China because of the implementation of policies to control air pollution. (with inputs from Reuters)

China struggles with low visibility, traffic disruption amid heavy fog

China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) on Friday said that the anti-pollution campaign for this year's autumn-winter heating season will set stricter emissions targets for cities that had higher concentrations of damaging particles the last time around.

Cities that met pollution targets last year will be exempt from targets this year, MEE spokesman Liu Youbin said, speaking at a briefing in the capital.

The strategy comes as China enters its sixth year of an aggressive clampdown on pollution in a bid to cut the smog that envelops many cities during the winter months when homes and businesses crank up the heating.

The ministry didn't provide details on precise levels for concentrations of PM 2.5 (lung-damaging particles of less than 2.5 microns in diameter) that will be set for the cities that did not meet last year's targets. But preferential treatment for cities that performed well is a part of China's efforts to put an end to what it calls "one-size-fits-all" measures.

According to a draft for the Key Smog Control Zone of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei circulated on industry websites, the target for the capital itself is zero growth in emissions from last year. The remaining 27 cities will be expected to cut concentrations of PM 2.5 by 1% to 11%, or an average of 5.5% during the 2019-2020 autumn-winter season.

Even a cut of 11% will not be enough to offset the increase in pollution in some cities last year.

Ministry spokesman Liu did not comment directly on details but said that the ministry had already sent a draft to local governments to solicit their opinions.

Reuters calculations based on official data showed that only four out of the country's 28 key pollution control cities in northern China met their targets last year, including Beijing, Changzhi, Jincheng, and Jining.

Cities likely to be given even more stringent targets this winter include Langfang, Baoding, Zhengzhou, and Anyang, all of which saw double-digit percentage growth in PM 2.5 last winter.

Official data shows air quality in August was better than last year, with average PM 2.5 readings falling 13% to an average of 27 micrograms per cubic metre in the key 28 cities in northern China. However, over the eight months, concentrations rose by 1.8% to 56 micrograms, more than the national standard of 35 micrograms.

China's central government will not set overall output restrictions on heavy industry for the coming winter but will direct local governments to impose limits based on manufacturers' emissions, the environment ministry had said in July.

Last year China ditched its blanket production curbs on heavy industry, which includes steelmaking, coal-fired power plants, cement factories, coke plants, metal casting, and chemical production from October 1 to March 31.

China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) on Friday said that the anti-pollution campaign for this year's autumn-winter heating season will set stricter emissions targets for cities that had higher concentrations of damaging particles the last time around.

China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) on Friday said that the anti-pollution campaign for this year's autumn-winter heating season will set stricter emissions targets for cities that had higher concentrations of damaging particles the last time around. Cities that met pollution targets last year will be exempt from targets this year, MEE spokesman Liu Youbin said, speaking at a briefing in the capital. The strategy comes as China enters its sixth year of an aggressive clampdown on pollution in a bid to cut the smog that envelops many cities during the winter months when homes and businesses crank up the heating. The ministry didn't provide details on precise levels for concentrations of PM 2.5 (lung-damaging particles of less than 2.5 microns in diameter) that will be set for the cities that did not meet last year's targets. But preferential treatment for cities that performed well is a part of China's efforts to put an end to what it calls "one-size-fits-all" measures. According to a draft for the Key Smog Control Zone of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei circulated on industry websites, the target for the capital itself is zero growth in emissions from last year. The remaining 27 cities will be expected to cut concentrations of PM 2.5 by 1% to 11%, or an average of 5.5% during the 2019-2020 autumn-winter season. Even a cut of 11% will not be enough to offset the increase in pollution in some cities last year. Ministry spokesman Liu did not comment directly on details but said that the ministry had already sent a draft to local governments to solicit their opinions. Reuters calculations based on official data showed that only four out of the country's 28 key pollution control cities in northern China met their targets last year, including Beijing, Changzhi, Jincheng, and Jining. Cities likely to be given even more stringent targets this winter include Langfang, Baoding, Zhengzhou, and Anyang, all of which saw double-digit percentage growth in PM 2.5 last winter. Official data shows air quality in August was better than last year, with average PM 2.5 readings falling 13% to an average of 27 micrograms per cubic metre in the key 28 cities in northern China. However, over the eight months, concentrations rose by 1.8% to 56 micrograms, more than the national standard of 35 micrograms. China's central government will not set overall output restrictions on heavy industry for the coming winter but will direct local governments to impose limits based on manufacturers' emissions, the environment ministry had said in July. Last year China ditched its blanket production curbs on heavy industry, which includes steelmaking, coal-fired power plants, cement factories, coke plants, metal casting, and chemical production from October 1 to March 31.

China to set stricter targets for polluting cities in heating season

China's capital city Beijing has pledged to improve air quality this year but did not commit to a specific target, suggesting the country's air-pollution campaign is stalling as the easily attainable measures have already been taken.

"Beijing will keep improving air quality, with average annual concentrations of small particles (PM2.5) and three-year rolling average PM2.5 level continuing to be lowered," said Beijing Municipal Government in a statement on Wednesday.

Average concentrations of PM2.5, or particulate matter that measures 2.5 microns, in 2018 fell 12.1 per cent from 2017 to 51 micrograms per cubic metre, as a result of its stringent push to trim coal consumption and to clear out polluting plants.

However, Beijing's 2018 PM2.5 levels were still much higher than China's average of 39 micrograms per cubic metre and national target of 35 micrograms per cubic metre.

PM2.5 is a closely monitored air pollutant because its small size allows the particles to lodge deep in the lungs.

The World Health Organization recommends an air quality standard for PM2.5 of no more than 10 micrograms per cubic metre.

The Beijing government said it will target emissions from vehicles, the biggest PM2.5 source in the city, construction sites and manufacturing plants in 2019.

However, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) warned in a news briefing last month that "emission cuts in Beijing itself will be not enough to support a large scale of PM2.5 cuts".

The ministry reckons Beijing will also need to reduce external impacts from other regions, in particular from the coal-mining hub of Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces.

"In a word, Beijing's target this year is to maintain current (anti-smog) achievements...Public should be prepared to see a rising PM2.5 reading if there is adverse weather condition," Liu Bingjiang, the head of the atmospheric environment department at the MEE, said at the briefing.

Average PM2.5 level in Beijing was 52 micrograms per cubic metre in January, up 52.9 per cent from a year ago, according to the MEE data.

The city also aims to improve its water quality and tackle soil pollution in 2019 by improving the efficiency of fertiliser usage in rural area and tightening heavy-metal disposal standards, according to the government statement.

China's capital city Beijing has pledged to improve air quality this year but did not commit to a specific target, suggesting the country's air-pollution campaign is stalling as the easily attainable measures have already been taken.

China's capital city Beijing has pledged to improve air quality this year but did not commit to a specific target, suggesting the country's air-pollution campaign is stalling as the easily attainable measures have already been taken. "Beijing will keep improving air quality, with average annual concentrations of small particles (PM2.5) and three-year rolling average PM2.5 level continuing to be lowered," said Beijing Municipal Government in a statement on Wednesday. Average concentrations of PM2.5, or particulate matter that measures 2.5 microns, in 2018 fell 12.1 per cent from 2017 to 51 micrograms per cubic metre, as a result of its stringent push to trim coal consumption and to clear out polluting plants. However, Beijing's 2018 PM2.5 levels were still much higher than China's average of 39 micrograms per cubic metre and national target of 35 micrograms per cubic metre. PM2.5 is a closely monitored air pollutant because its small size allows the particles to lodge deep in the lungs. The World Health Organization recommends an air quality standard for PM2.5 of no more than 10 micrograms per cubic metre. The Beijing government said it will target emissions from vehicles, the biggest PM2.5 source in the city, construction sites and manufacturing plants in 2019. However, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) warned in a news briefing last month that "emission cuts in Beijing itself will be not enough to support a large scale of PM2.5 cuts". The ministry reckons Beijing will also need to reduce external impacts from other regions, in particular from the coal-mining hub of Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces. "In a word, Beijing's target this year is to maintain current (anti-smog) achievements...Public should be prepared to see a rising PM2.5 reading if there is adverse weather condition," Liu Bingjiang, the head of the atmospheric environment department at the MEE, said at the briefing. Average PM2.5 level in Beijing was 52 micrograms per cubic metre in January, up 52.9 per cent from a year ago, according to the MEE data. The city also aims to improve its water quality and tackle soil pollution in 2019 by improving the efficiency of fertiliser usage in rural area and tightening heavy-metal disposal standards, according to the government statement.

China's capital Beijing vows air quality improvement but gives no target

Thirty-six people were injured, one of them seriously, in a Jallikattu event held at Avanipuram in the district amid high-security today in which more than 900 bulls were used, police said. All the injured were being treated at the medical camp put up near the venue, police said.

More than 700 bull-tamers participated in the events, which were witnessed by thousands of spectators.

The bull-taming sport was formally inaugurated by Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar and District Collector Veeraraghava Rao. Top officials of the district and police administrations, including Superintendent of Police, were also present at the venue.

Police said all precautionary measures, including mandatory medical tests for bulls and participants as laid down by the state government, were taken before the conduct of the traditional rural sport.

Normally, Jallikattu is held as part of the Pongal festivities in Tamil Nadu. However, it was not held during Pongal this year due to a Supreme Court ban.

Amid continuing protests over Jallikattu ban across the state, the Tamil Nadu Assembly had on January 23 unanimously passed an amendment bill, clearing the path for conducting Jallikattu without any hindrance.

(PTI) 
&nbsp;

The new cuts will bring coal use in the city to less than 7 million tonnes in 2017, the city's mayor Cai Qi said

Thirty-six people were injured, one of them seriously, in a Jallikattu event held at Avanipuram in the district amid high-security today in which more than 900 bulls were used, police said. All the injured were being treated at the medical camp put up near the venue, police said. More than 700 bull-tamers participated in the events, which were witnessed by thousands of spectators. The bull-taming sport was formally inaugurated by Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar and District Collector Veeraraghava Rao. Top officials of the district and police administrations, including Superintendent of Police, were also present at the venue. Police said all precautionary measures, including mandatory medical tests for bulls and participants as laid down by the state government, were taken before the conduct of the traditional rural sport. Normally, Jallikattu is held as part of the Pongal festivities in Tamil Nadu. However, it was not held during Pongal this year due to a Supreme Court ban. Amid continuing protests over Jallikattu ban across the state, the Tamil Nadu Assembly had on January 23 unanimously passed an amendment bill, clearing the path for conducting Jallikattu without any hindrance. (PTI)

Beijing to cut coal consumption by 30% in 2017 to fight choking smog

Beijing&#39;s city government has ordered 1,200 factories near the Chinese capital, including an oil refinery run by state oil major Sinopec and a Cofco food plant, to either shut or cut output following its highest possible air pollution warning.

Environmental authorities issued a red alert that started on Friday night and will run until Wednesday after warning of a smog build-up across China&#39;s north. That will mean curbs on traffic and construction work and advisories for schools, hospitals and businesses.

The municipal government said in a statement Sinopec&#39;s 10 million tonne-per-year Yanshan refinery, a Shougang Group steel product plant and a Cofco factory that makes instant noodles and crackers were among 500 companies it had ordered to limit output.

It also listed 700 companies that must suspend operations altogether.

Red alerts are issued when the air quality index (AQI), a measure of pollutants in the air, is forecast to break 200 for more than four days in succession, surpass 300 for more than two days or overshoot 500 for at least 24 hours.

The AQI reading in Beijing on Saturday was 120.

Ten cities in the province of Hebei, which surrounds Beijing and is the nation&#39; top steel-producing region, have been issued with red alerts for smog. Steel plants there have been forced to cut output.

The world&#39;s second-largest economy has been battling environmental degradation left by decades of breakneck economic growth. The government&#39;s colour-graded warning system was adopted as part of its crackdown on smog.

(Reuters)

Environmental authorities issued a red alert that started on Friday night and will run until Wednesday

Beijing's city government has ordered 1,200 factories near the Chinese capital, including an oil refinery run by state oil major Sinopec and a Cofco food plant, to either shut or cut output following its highest possible air pollution warning. Environmental authorities issued a red alert that started on Friday night and will run until Wednesday after warning of a smog build-up across China's north. That will mean curbs on traffic and construction work and advisories for schools, hospitals and businesses. The municipal government said in a statement Sinopec's 10 million tonne-per-year Yanshan refinery, a Shougang Group steel product plant and a Cofco factory that makes instant noodles and crackers were among 500 companies it had ordered to limit output. It also listed 700 companies that must suspend operations altogether. Red alerts are issued when the air quality index (AQI), a measure of pollutants in the air, is forecast to break 200 for more than four days in succession, surpass 300 for more than two days or overshoot 500 for at least 24 hours. The AQI reading in Beijing on Saturday was 120. Ten cities in the province of Hebei, which surrounds Beijing and is the nation' top steel-producing region, have been issued with red alerts for smog. Steel plants there have been forced to cut output. The world's second-largest economy has been battling environmental degradation left by decades of breakneck economic growth. The government's colour-graded warning system was adopted as part of its crackdown on smog. (Reuters)

Under pollution alert, 1200 factories to shut or cut output in Beijing