Smog-detection squad to patrol Beijing's streets

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Beijing's latest efforts to deal with aggravated air pollution will see a new squad of environmental police on the streets of the Chinese capital to sniff out the sources of pollutants.

Beijing was shrouded in heavy smog in the opening week of 2017. /CGTN

These specialized police will trace illegal burning, including open-air barbecues and rubbish fires around the city, according to acting mayor Cai Qi. The officers will also monitor whether people and businesses are following environmental regulations.

The move came after nine days of heavy smog in the city, the worst recorded spell of heavy pollution in terms of consecutive days. People have been advised to stay indoors because of the hazardous levels of smog, and public pressure on the authorities to tackle the problem has also risen.

Beijing's acting mayor Cai Qi briefs the media. /Beijing Evening News

Cai said that since December 30, 4,100 construction sites have been shut down and activities at 2,500 factories have been limited.

He also promised to reduce Beijing’s coal consumption by 30 percent this year. And from next month, around 300,000 high-polluting vehicles will be restricted from entering the city.

"Open-air barbecues, garbage incineration, biomass burning, dust from roads - these acts of non-compliance with regulations are actually the result of lax supervision and weak law enforcement," Cai said.

Recent efforts to battle the smog have often been futile. /CGTN

China recent attempts to improve air quality proved to be “sluggish” and “ineffective”, said China’s top environmental protection minister Chen Jining, during a different press conference on Friday. Chen also said he is “guilt-ridden” about the current situation.

Last week Beijing was put under an "orange alert", the second highest level in China's four-tiered air alert system.