Chinese Premier Li Keqiang wrapped up the National People's Congress (NPC) annual sessions with a promise that the government will impose harsher punishments on industries that will be caught violating environmental laws in a bid to cut the toxic smog that has enveloped Beijing and other cities and provinces.

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Speaking to reporters in a press conference held at the end of the two sessions, Li admitted that the government's efforts to address the air pollution problem are not enough and do not meet the expectations of its citizens.

"The Chinese government is determined to tackle smog and environmental pollution as a whole," Mr. Li said.

"But the progress we have made still falls far short of the expectation of the people. Last year, I said the Chinese government would declare war against environmental pollution. We're determined to carry forward our efforts until we achieve our goal," he added.

The dire problem of air pollution in China that had become the subject of a controversial documentary titled 'Under the Dome" had put the Chinese authorities in a quandary, prompting the censors to order its deletion from major video sites and websites days before the opening of the legislative sessions.

The controversial film generated angry reactions from the Chinese people who felt that the mere act of breathing could be a major health hazard.

The presence of poisonous particles and gases emitted by power plants, factories, and vehicles that often blanket Beijing and other cities only showed the failure of  the government to fulfill its promise of a cleaner air.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection has recently reported that only 8 cities out of the 74 monitored cities met clean air standards as of last year.

Although Beijing showed bluer skies in the early part of  the sessions, the air pollution menace was still the top issue that was discussed in the meetings.

Li admitted about some of the problems that were raised by the documentary, specifically the weak enforcement of environmental restrictions by agencies who are ambivalent in taking on state-owned energy conglomerates.

Li said the government would fully implement its new Environmental Pollution Law that provides stiffer fines on those industries caught emitting gases and dumping toxic wastes.

The Premier vowed to bring erring industries and factories to justice and will make them pay dearly. He added that the government need to deal with the industries with an iron hand.

TagsUnder the Dome