China to force polluters to pay more - AFP

[Eugene]

Source: Agence France-Presse

China to force polluters to pay more

2 hours, 26 minutes ago

BEIJING (AFP) - China is set to double fees that
companies must pay for pollution amid concerns that
efforts to clean up the environment are not working
well enough, state press said Wednesday.

The move is aimed at forcing companies who do not
care for the environment to improve their pollution
habits through cost pressures, the China Daily said,
citing National Development and Reform Commission
vice minister Bi Jingquan.

"There is a desperate need for the country to instill
the principle that those creating pollution must pay
the costs," the newspaper quoted Bi of the top
economic planning agency as saying.

Charges on sewage and sulphur dioxide emissions are
likely to double from the current levels of 0.67 yuan
(0.09 dollar) per tonne and 0.63 yuan per tonne
respectively, he said, without disclosing when the
new rules would take effect.

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Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070627/sc_afp/chinaenvironmentpollution_070627060600