China shuts down more than 10,000 polluting enterprises

BEIJING (AFP) — Chinese regulators last year shut down more than 10,000 polluting enterprises as they faced an uphill battle to improve the country's environment, state media said.

In the course of a special campaign to enforce the environmental law between April and November, altogether 6,462 heavy polluters were ordered to cease operations, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Another 3,861 enterprises were closed down temporarily until they had brought their facilities in line with the regulations, according to the agency, which cited the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA).

The same nationwide operation also led to 155 people being punished, Xinhua said.

"The operation has ...