A top environmentalist has hailed draft measures to clean up Beijing's air as a major breakthrough - butÂ
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residents seem less impressed.
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The proposed Air Pollution Control Regulation targets vehicles, factories and outdoor barbecues, and itÂ
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promises large fines for those who break the rules.
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Environmental protection officials hope the policy will help reduce the smog that has clouded the capital inÂ
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recent weeks.
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For Feng Yongfeng, founder of Green Beagle, the regulation is a step in the right direction.
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"It's more transparent (than the legislation introduced in 2000) and focuses more on public concerns,Â
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which shows the government has attached more importance to the voice of the people," he said onÂ
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Sunday. "Gauging public opinion will help tackle the problem."
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The draft, which is open for comments until Feb 8, requires authorities to forecast pollution levels, andÂ
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take firm action, including suspending production at factories and ordering vehicles off the city's roads.
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Rule-breakers will face fines from CNY50,000 to CNY500,000.
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Feng said the draft strengthens guidance and supervision, while increasing penalties for bad behavior. ButÂ
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he warned it will still take time to deal with the capital's air problems.
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For larger polluting companies, a penalty of CNY50,000 simply will not contain their illegal behavior, as theÂ
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cost of abiding by the law is much higher than breaking it, Feng said.
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The government should also increase punishments that target the major polluting industries, he added.
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Because a third of the city's PM2.5 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter) isÂ
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contributed by neighboring cities, the capital's efforts simply cannot solve the problem by themselves, heÂ
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added.
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Another issue could be the regional traffic restriction in the regulation, which fails to give more details onÂ
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what kind of vehicles and industries should be targeted on heavy smog days. This has concerned someÂ
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residents.
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"I can't go to school by bus or taxi if my car is ordered off the road," said Huang Jing, 20, who drives to aÂ
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university in Fengtai district every day. Even after reading the draft on the Internet, he said he did notÂ
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know whether his car will be restricted.
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"The bus takes too much time, and everyone knows how hard it is to get a taxi," he said. "I look forwardÂ
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to a more specific explanation."
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Shen Jingjing also said she felt the restriction might inconvenience residents.
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"It makes sense that the government appeal to the public to use public transportation on serious pollutingÂ
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days, but mandatory measures are simply beyond all reason," the 36-year-old said.
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"You can reward those with cars when they use public transportation, rather than punish those who driveÂ
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when they have to."
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In addition to harsh restrictions on vehicles, the draft also threatens to fine street barbecue vendorsÂ
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CNY5,000 if they continue working on bad air days.
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Liu Xiaohang, who lives in a community with many restaurants and outdoor barbecues in ChaoyangÂ
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district, said he does not think the punishment can solve the problem.
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"In summer, many sidewalk snack stall owners develop their businesses around my home, which wereÂ
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very dirty and polluted the air. But they were not banned under current regulations, let alone a new one,"Â
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the 25-year-old said.
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"What I am most concerned about is the enforcement. If the draft is passed but without enforcement, itÂ
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still will not work."Â