China dispatches high-profile environment inspection teams

BEIJING - China's central government has organized a third group of inspection teams to review local government environmental protection work.

Seven teams will be dispatched to Anhui, Fujian, Guizhou, Hunan, Liaoning, Shanxi and Tianjin from Monday, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said Monday.

The inspection will last about one month, and focus on prominent environmental issues that are closely watched by the central government and aroused strong public resentment, and how the local governments have handled them, said the ministry.

China held more than 3,100 officials accountable for lax environmental protection after the second batch of inspectors were sent to Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hubei, Guangdong, Gansu and Shaanxi at the end of last year. Punishments include removal from official posts.