Inner Mongolia advances in environmental protection

People wander at a park in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, May 5, 2018. [Photo/VCG]

Inner Mongolia autonomous region in North China moved forward significantly in environmental protection in 2018.

The regional government implemented concrete measures to address air pollution, water pollution and soil pollution. It also reinforced regulation of pollutant sources, supervision of nature reserves and court proceedings under relevant laws.

It issued a three-year plan to win the blue sky defense war and launched a campaign targeting diesel trucks, volatile organic compounds and loose coal.

According to the regional ecology and environment department, 83.6 percent of days  in 12 leagues and cities of Inner Mongolia had fairly good air quality and 2 percent were affected by heavy pollution.

The average concentrations of PM2.5, SO2, NO2, O3 and CO in the region were at acceptable levels last year. 

Over the past year, the region reduced loose coal consumption by 642, 000 tons, implemented 35 volatile organic compound control projects, reformed more than 32 sets of thermal power units to ultra-low emission and eliminated 127 ineffective coal-fired boilers in prefecture-level cities.

A total of 398 major projects addressing pollution have been accomplished in Wuhai and its surrounding areas.

Hulun lake, the largest freshwater lake in Inner Mongolia gets cleaner, Feb 2, 2019. [Photo/VCG]

The government also came out with a three-year plan for water pollution and control, which improved analysis of the water environment as well as the notification and early warning system.

Some 1,002 water sources were designated centralized drinking water protection areas, 13 black and odorous water bodies were basically cleaned up, and 10,600 underground oil tanks were subjected to anti-seepage renovation.

The government also made progress in improving the ecological environment of Hulun lake, Wuliangsuhai lake and Daihai lake.