Crackdown on corruption at Chinese environmental risk assessment agencies
Sixty-three agencies censured for malpractice after graft-busters criticise 'flawed' system in which friends of officials intervened in reviews
Dozens of agencies that carry out environmental risk assessments for development projects have been punished by the government after an inspection by graft-busters late last year.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection said it had barred or limited the work carried out by 63 agencies and 22 assessing staff who were guilty of malpractice.
The news follows an inspection by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), which said in February that relatives and friends of some officials at the ministry had "intervened" in reviews or had profited by running environmental risk-assessment agencies.
The CCDI did not name the officials but it urged the ministry to reform the environmental impact reviewing system. It said the system was flawed and had increased pollution risks.
On the mainland, all industrial projects must undergo environmental impact assessments - which include an assessment of their anti-pollution measures - before they can be approved.
Risk-assessment agencies with links to local or central environmental authorities have become popular with developers because their connections can help secure approvals.
The CCDI also criticised oversight by environmental authorities, saying this had resulted in poor compliance by project developers.