Beijing bans construction works in winter

Almaty. September 18. Silkroadnews – Beijing bans construction works in winter, South China Morning Post.
“Almost all major public construction projects in Beijing will be halted this winter in an effort to improve the city’s notorious air quality,” the report said.
It is noted that from November 15 to March 15, during the heating season, work on road and water projects, as well as demolition of housing will be banned in the six major districts of Beijing.
Nevertheless, work on some “major livelihood projects”, related to railways, airports and the construction of affordable housing will be allowed to continue, provided they are approved by the municipal commission of housing and urban-rural development. The city government will intensify control over dust emissions at any construction sites that continue to function, and introduce restrictions on the use of machinery generating harmful emissions. Violators of the new rules will be severely punished.
“China is in the fourth year of a “war on pollution” designed to reverse the damage done by decades of untrammelled economic growth, and allay concerns that hazardous smog, and widespread water and soil contamination are causing hundreds of thousands of early deaths every year,” the publication reads.
It is also reported, the Chinese authorities intend to impose tough restrictions on industry and transport in the north of the country to reduce smog. “In the capital, it is aiming to reduce concentrations of the tiny airborne particles known as PM2.5 by more than a quarter from their 2012 levels to 60 micrograms per cubic metre,” the agency reported.
In January and February of last year, it reminded, Beijing registered near a record-high level of smog.