To reduce Beijing’s smog, the city has tried several measures such as hosing the city with water cannons and declaring a one-week work holiday when international VIPs are in the capital city for a political or sports event.
On Friday, environmental authorities issued a red alert because of a smog build-up. If air quality index (AQI) is forecast to exceed 200 for more than four successive days, or go beyond 300 for more than two days, or breach 500 for at least 24 hours, a red alert is issued. On Saturday, the AQI reading in Beijing was 120, The Telegraph reported.
The red alert will be until Wednesday. It would require reduction in vehicles, construction activities and the issuance of advisories for companies, educational and medical institutions. Transport authorities in Beijing will restrict vehicle use based on the last number on the vehicle plate, while high-polluting vehicles are banned from the city roads. State-owned and government agencies must cut the number of cars by 30 percent, CCTV reported.
Beijing’s city government ordered 1,200 factories near the city to close or reduce production because of the red alert. Among the top polluters are the Yanshan refinery of Sinopec which produces 10 million tons of carbon dioxide a year, a steel product plant of the Shougang Group and the Cofco factory that manufactures crackers and instant noodles. These are among the 500 companies in Beijing required to cut their output. Another 700 companies were ordered to suspend 100 percent of its operations.
Besides Beijing, 10 other cities in Hebei Province that surround the capital city of China had also issued red alerts and forced steel mills to reduce production. Also expected to issue red alerts are 21 other cities, including Zhengzhou, Taiyuan and Shijiazhuang, while another nine cities would issue orange alerts, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection.