An official of the municipal environment protection bureau said that if all sand quarries in Beijing are closed, the total particulate matters in the air will drop by five percent, according to Monday's "Science and Technology Daily".
Earlier this year, Beijing Mayor Liu Qi asked the districts of Fengtai, Shijingshan, and Mentougou to shut down all their sand quarries.
After one month's efforts, the 81 sand quarries in the Yongding riverway were closed. The Yongding River is one of the country's four flood-controlling rivers. The sand quarries within the Yongding River were hidden troubles to the security and management of flood control.
The official also said that if all the sand quarries are closed, Beijing will have much cleaner air.
(People's Daily 07/21/2001)
