Sweeping Beijing Smog Alerts: Coincidentally, Major Communist Party Meetings In 10 Days
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Beijing has been under heavy smog since noon on Thursday. The municipality’s office for severe air pollution emergency issued a yellow alert that day, advising residents to take protective measures, use public transport and reduce driving vehicles. Children and the elderly are advised to stay indoors, and middle and primary schools and kindergartens to reduce outdoor activities.
This was the first yellow alert Beijing issued since it put an emergency response system – with four levels of pollution forecasts ranking from blue, yellow, orange and red – into effective last October. Beijing has issued blue alerts before.
It comes just 10 days before the country’s capital hosts two important political meetings: the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the national advisory body, will meet on March 3, while the National People’s Congress, or the legislature, are scheduled for talks starting on March 5. Thousands of delegates across the country are expected to attend the meetings.
The city said it has strengthened checking and supervision on the key emission sites and organisations, including the coal-burning boilers, the construction sites and open-air barbecue stands.
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http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1432539/smog-alert-raised-beijing-ahead-major-communist-party-meetings
