Reprieve for people in Beijing as smog density fell by 30 pc

It is a big respite for the locals after a state-run research body on Wednesday said that the average air pollution levels in Beijing and surrounding cities which suffered recurring smog fell by 30 per cent since 2013 but public concerns remain.

The average density of PM 2.5, fine particulate matter that causes smog, in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region dropped by 26.5 microgrammes per cubic meter, or 30 per cent, from 2013 to 2016, according to the satellite data released by theChinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

The CAS released the findings of its researchers on the cause, early warning, forecasting and surveillance of smog aswell as clean coal technology.

According to remote-sensing satellite data, despite the overall lowering of smog density in the region, air qualityworsened in Beijing during the winter. 

The average density of PM 2.5 in Beijing during winter mounted from 70 microgrammes per cubic metre in 2014 to 89microgrammes per cubic metre in 2015, and to 110 microgrammes per cubic metre in 2016.

Gu Xingfa, head of the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth of the CAS, said the remote sensing satellitedata proved that Beijing did make headway in smog control, but public complaints about worsening pollution since the winterof 2016 were also valid, he was quoted as saying by the state- run Xinhua news agency.