Beijing halts construction to clear air

Tag: Mixing Plants

Beijing is ordering a stoppage at construction sites and plans to shut down some heavy industries in temporary actions aimed at shut cutting air pollutionion for the 2008 Olympic period.

Builders are to cease digging and pouring of concrete from July 20-Sept. 20, the city's Environmental Protection Bureau told the Associated Press..

Nineteen heavy-polluting companies also have been told to cut their emissions by 30 per cent in the same period .

The International Olympic Committee showed increasing concern over air pollution as criticism by athletes escalated in recent weeks. The world's top marathon runner, Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, opted out of the classic distance, concerned about prolonged exposure to pollution, breathing deeply in competitive conditions. The IOC said it will postpone outdoor endurance events of more than one hour if the air quality is poor.

The Capital Steel Group in west Beijing has been told to reduce emissions, and production will be halted at the Eastern Chemical Plant of Beijing Eastern Petrochemical Co. Coal-burning boilers that fail to meet emission standards also are to be shuttered, the bureau said.

Du Shaozhong, deputy director of the environment body, said production would be stopped at cement plants, concrete mixing plants and cement grinding plants in southeastern Beijing. Quarrying operations will also be stopped. Details about removing vehicles from Beijing's streets -- about half the 3.3-million cars and trucks -- will be announced later.

Beijing is one of the world's most polluted cities. A mix of particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide often blankets the city at levels five times higher than World Health Organizations safety standards.