Policy moves on environmental work and facilities in old urban areas

Inspection mechanism for environmental work

China has established a mechanism for the inspection of ecological and environmental protection that enables routine oversight of provincial authorities, central government departments and State-owned enterprises, according to regulations made public on June 17.

The document, regulations on central inspection work of ecological and environmental protection, was jointly issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council.

It is aimed at solving prominent environmental problems and improving the quality of the environment and ecology and includes measures to ensure the authorities fulfill their political responsibilities on environmental and ecological protection.

The country will establish a central leading group for the inspection of ecological and environmental protection, with members comprising officials from the ministries of environment, justice, the National Audit Office and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, according to the regulations.

The inspections launched by the group will target areas and water bodies where the quality of the ecology and environment has deteriorated, and the sites of prominent cases of pollution.

They will also look into how problems reported by the public have been rectified and illegal interventions in law enforcement and judicial procedures dealing with environmental and ecological problems. The regulations, which came into force on June 6, also clarify the ways the inspection groups can conduct their work and how wrongdoers should be held accountable.

Call for better facilities in old urban areas

China will beef up efforts to improve facilities in old urban residential communities to stabilize investment and growth, the State Council decided at an executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday.

The renovation of old urban residential communities, a major program in boosting public livelihoods and development, has been in line with public aspirations, a statement released after the meeting said.

The meeting called for efforts to effectively expand investment that could promote domestic consumption and avoid duplication of construction projects.

There are at least 100 million people nationwide living in old urban residential communities that require substantial upgrading, the statement said. It called for accelerated efforts to spell out the scale of renovation and the standards that need to be met, with pilot programs set be launched this year as a precursor to nationwide implementation.

The meeting also underscored the importance of clearly defining the responsibilities of local governments and respecting residents' needs.

The government will prioritize the upgrading of roads, and water, electricity, gas, and optical fiber networks, with elevators to be installed and parking lots built in communities where conditions permit, the statement said, adding that households will be offered incentives to upgrade facilities in their own homes.

The central government will roll out funding support to the renovation efforts, with financial institutions and local governments also encouraged to explore sustainable ways to increase financial support for the renovation of old residential communities, the statement said, adding that market-based approaches will be employed to attract private investment.

The government will encourage the development of services, such as elderly care, day care for children, and medical and domestic services in communities. The meeting also decided on measures to move forward with a new round of power grid upgrading in rural areas. The time it takes for enterprises to get electric power will be further shortened, the statement said.