Central China air quality to improve through to 2030   

環保部提出目標：2030年中部地區空氣質量全面改善

A giant water cannon sprays mist into the air in Zhangjiakou of Hebei province on July 7, 2014. [Photo: Official Sina Weibo account of Xinhua]

(ECNS) -- China plans to vigorously improve air quality across central regions through to 2030, according to a draft report released on Tuesday.

Covering the eight provinces of Henan, Anhui, Shanxi, Shandong, Hebei, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi, it included key economic areas such as Wuhan Urban Circle, Greater Changsha Metropolitan Region, the Central Plains Economic Zone, and Poyang Lake Ecological Economic Zone.

Chemical dependent agriculture in Central China has aggravated metal contamination in the soil, with fertilizer use per output unit between 60 and 90 percent higher than the national average, the report said.

In addition, PM2.5 concentrations across central regions have frequently exceeded normal levels, with the worst affected areas being Kaifeng and Zhengzhou, both of which experienced PM2.5 levels exceeding the norm 55 percent of days.

According to atmospheric analysis, seventeen cities saw PM2.5 concentrations exceed 80mg per cubic meter.

The report aims to control atmospheric pollution across Central China, to lower the level of basic air pollutants by 15 percent along the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River, and for 100 percent of drinking water to meet quality standards across the area by 2020.

Air quality and water safety would be comprehensively improved through to 2030, it stressed.