Home | China | World | Business “Invisible City ” Alleviates Air Pollution WED, NOV 28, 2001     Capital of northwest China's Gansu province, Lanzhou is one of the most seriously polluted cities in the country. According to sources from the local environmental protection department, the amounts of all listed air pollutants have been reduced greatly in Lanzhou as a result of pollution alleviation measures. Since 1998, the discharge volume of smoke and dust has been reduced by 17,000 tons, while sulfur dioxide has gone down by 2,100 tons. The sources said that Lanzhou's average pollution indicator during the winter of 1998 was 423. It dropped to 294 in 1999, and down further to 238 in 2000. China classifies air quality in the country into five levels. pollution reading above 300 is classified as Level V, or hazardous,the most serious pollution category. Experts said that the improvement signals that China's program to develop its western region has achieved initial progress. Last year, Lanzhou successfully greened over 5,000 hectares of the city's southern and northern hills, which has effectively controlled the air pollution in the urban area, said the sources. In October, Lanzhou began to use natural gas for its heating system, which helps improve the environment which used to rely solely on coal for heating fuel. Since 1998, Lanzhou began to step up its pollution control withthe launching of a large environmental protection project aimed at changing the city's fuel structure and traditional heating modes. Since the air pollution is worse in winter, the local government has ordered a group of enterprises producing heavy pollution to stop or limit production during the winter months. Another 47 enterprises that produce pollutants above the national standard, including Lanzhou Iron and Steel Company and Xigu Heat and Power Plant, will also be required to limit or stop production soon. In addition, the local government has encouraged the burning of natural gas instead of coal, and controlled auto exhaust emissions. The basin terrain of Lanzhou hinders the diffusion of pollutants. The frequent sandstorms in the city's surrounding areas also intensify the air pollution problem there. Editor:Liu Hongji Source:Xinhua Recommend to your friend email:    China Central Television,All Rights Reserved