Beijing cracking down on vehicle pollution

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-7-2  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

BEIJING banned more than a quarter million high-emission vehicles from its roads yesterday, part of a drive to curb pollution ahead of the Olympics.

In the capital, about 300,000 high-emission motor vehicles that don't meet the exhaust standards won't be allowed on the road until September 20. However, their owners will be compensated with tax breaks and exemption from road maintenance fees during the period.

Previously, such vehicles were only allowed on the road in certain areas and times.

Du Shaozhong, deputy director of the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau, said the vehicles, about 10 percent of the total in Beijing, discharge about half of the total exhaust volume.

Vehicles registered outside Beijing must obtain special permits and meet emission standards before entering the capital during the same period.

Traffic police and environmental protection staff began vehicle inspections at more than 110 checkpoints around Beijing yesterday. Cars, tractors and trucks that lacked the required permits were stopped and urged to leave the area.

Random checks will also be held in some areas during the three-month period, said Du.

Yu Jie, deputy director of the Beijing Transportation Management Bureau, said 4,000 vehicles with the required permits had been designated to transport supplies of food and other daily necessities in and out of Beijing.

They will not be bound by the alternate-day driving limits on private cars that begin on July 20.

Beijing environmental protection bureau statistics showed 13 more blue-sky days in the first six months than a year earlier, the best figure in nine years.