Ancient Xi'an City Intensifies Efforts to Clean Air

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 ◆ Ancient Xi'an City Intensifies Efforts to Clean Air

The ancient city of Xi'an, capital of northwestern Shaanxi Province,has beefed up its efforts to control air pollution.

The city government has recently issued a notice requiring the renovation of 432 coal-burning boilers that have long polluted the city be completed before October 31this year.

These coal-burning boilers will be rebuilt so as to enable them to use clean energy such as electricity or natural gas.

The notice also calls for the closure of all smaller boilers in the city.

Xi'an,which has been the capital of 12ancient dynasties in Chinese history,is now a key economic center and transportation hub in the central and western regions of China.It has built up a good reputation for its rich historical relics and antiquities.

Sources with the city environmental protection research institute listed sulfur dioxide,nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter as major pollutants in the air.And researches show that coal-burning boilers contribute 32percent of the total particulate matter in the air.The ratio rises to 38percent during the winter time.

Coal-burning boilers are also cited as a major cause of higher sulfur dioxide in the air.
Xi'an now has 1,561coal-burning boilers,consuming more than 4million tons of coal annually.

The boilers,which cannot be renovated within the prescribed period of time,will be demolished or removed,and people or companies responsible for these boilers will be appropriately punished,according to the city environmental protection bureau.