China approves plan to tackle pollution in countryside

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–China has approved a plan to address pollution problems in its vast rural areas, the country’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment said on Tuesday.

The plan will focus on pollution control, wastes recycling and clean production in the countryside.

China also hopes to ensure clean drinking water, and to improve garbage and sewages treatment.

Meanwhile, fertilizer and pesticides use, as well as total water consumption in farming, will face cuts.

China’s war on pollution in the past years has mostly been concentrated in the cities, but is now extending its coverage to the rural areas, where the problem is also growing fast.

The State Council published a plan in February 2018 to tackle countryside pollution and vowed to restore wetlands, plant trees and eliminate “disorderly” rural construction to improve the appearance of China’s villages.

ICN