Environmental governance aims to kill pollution not enterprises

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment said it is planning to ban local governments from suspending the operations of enterprises ahead of an inspection. Beijing News comments:

Some local governments openly implement two sets of environmental policies. They tighten up their prevention measures and control of the polluting industries immediately before an inspection team arrives. Then, after the inspectors leave, the polluting industries, usually big contributors to the local economy and thus the local government's tax revenues, will resume their production.

Ridiculously, some local governments have even closed down roadside eateries, laundries and car washes to make the cities look clean and tidy during the inspectors' stay, turning a deaf ear to local residents' complaints about the inconvenience caused.

Local governments go too far by ordering businesses to suspend their operations so they can pass the environmental inspection with flying colors. By doing so, they not only safeguard their interests, but also act like sentries for polluting industries rather than guardians of the public's interests.

They also unjustifiably kidnap enterprises that have abided by the laws and regulations on environmental protection.

Hopefully, the ministry will be able to put an end to the practice. But to make the accountability system effective, the environmental inspections need to work hand-in-hand with the disciplinary and supervisory authorities' anti-graft efforts. That will make local officials take the environmental inspections seriously.

Environmental governance focuses on curbing pollution rather than the death of enterprises. The purpose is to solve problems rather than create new ones. All localities need to act according to the rules and regulations, and strengthen their pollution control with targeted measures rather than blanket suspensions of business operations.