Officials pay for failing to stop pollution

Environmental audits reveal laxity in all seven of the inspected regions

More than 3,100 government officials have been held to account for the poor implementation of pollution control measures, a problem uncovered in all seven provincial regions included in the latest round of environmental inspections by the central authorities.

Inspectors sent by the State Council, China's Cabinet, have conducted monthlong reviews in Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing municipalities and in Gansu, Guangdong, Hubei and Shaanxi provinces since late November. The performance audits exposed more than 15,000 violations, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection.