Checkup on environmental damage caused by mining starts

China's environmental authority has launched a nationwide checkup on illegal operation of mining companies that do damages to the environment.

The State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) told Xinhua Tuesday that many mining companies, especially small and local ones and individual mine owners, have risked the environment and local people's daily life for profits.

The checkup is carried out jointly by the SEPA, the Ministry of Land and Resources and the State Administration of Production Safety and will end by September this year.

The administrations will shut down the mining companies that did not pass environmental impact evaluation in line with laws before it started operation as well as those that did not adopt measures to minimize its environmental damage.

The mining license, the license of production safety and the operation license of a mining company will be revoked according to law if the environmental authority concludes after investigation that it should be closed, the SEPA source said.

The government will also halt power and water supply for the company, the source added.

Source: Xinhua