China invests in battling pollution

BEIJING, July 28 (UPI) -- The Chinese government has committed $500 billion to enhance programs aimed at air and water pollution prevention and treatment, officials said Sunday.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection said $277 billion will be invested in an airborne pollution prevention and control action plan, which will be unveiled soon, and $326 billion will be spent to enhance the monitoring of drinking water, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported.

The ministry is also creating a national standard for surface water quality, which will likely be released next year, said Zhao Yingmin, director-general of the ministry's science, technology and standards department.