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China to focus on coal to battle smog

The smoggiest regions in China, including the national capital Beijing, will focus on reduction of coal consumption to control pollution, officials said Wednesday.

Participants from the ministry of environmental protection and six provincial-level regions in north China Wednesday agreed to cap coal consumption, eliminating coal-fired heating equipment and promoting central heating, at an air pollution control conference here, Xinhua reported.

Other controls will be imposed on vehicles, oil quality, and industrial pollution, officials said.

Minister for Environmental Protection Zhou Shengxian said the central government would strengthen monitoring, forecasting, supervision and legislation, while making better use of technology to reduce pollution.

China's ministry of finance has announced a $814 million reward for regions which successfully reduce air pollution.

Source: IANS