Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan yesterday urged a crackdown on crimes that violate environmental laws in an effort to address growing concerns.

Generally speaking the worsening trend in the environment in the country has not changed, Zeng said yesterday during a national conference on crackdown on enterprises that illegally discharge pollutants.

While such problems as river pollution, acid rain and noise are still a concern, new problems like electronic waste, hazardous waste and poisonous chemicals are emerging.

Polluting enterprises that pose a threat to drinking water sources must be shut down, work in construction sites where noise affects the living conditions of nearby residents stopped, and sewage and solid waste disposal in cities strictly supervised, Zeng said.

He said all construction projects must undergo environmental impact assessments. Those that fail to meet environmental standards will be stopped and ordered to improve their environmental protection facilities.

The vice-premier also urged that pollution control projects in key regions, including the Taihu Lake region in East China's Jiangsu Province and the Three Gorges Reservoir region, should be built up quickly.

He said efforts will be made to promote clean production and develop an economy based on the most efficient use of resources and the most effective protection of the environment.

After a national blitz against polluting enterprises between June and September last year, more than 7,300 enterprises across the country were shut down and more than 2,000 ordered to stop production and take pollution treatment measures.

In addition, more than 1,000 companies have been asked to better treat the pollutants they discharge so that what they let out into the environment can meet national standards.

In another development, Minister of State Environmental Protection Administration Xie Zhenhua yesterday called on environmental protection departments at all levels to strengthen their enforcement of environment laws.

(China Daily March 12, 2004)