Beijing Diary: China's Perplexing Smog Red Alert

Beijing Diary by Samantha Tan Chiew Ting Bernama's correspondent in Beijing Samantha Tan Chiew Ting shares her take on China's capital city. BEIJING, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- The Chinese say everything has changed in Beijing over the last decade, except for the smog that is more of a constant problem in the city of 11 million people. So here, unlike back in Malaysia where haze is only periodic, there is no reason for anyone to be surprised over the smog as the Beijing dwellers have to put up with the problem 365 days a year. However, Beijing residents were baffled when the authorities issued its first-ever 'red alert' for smog on Dec 7. But why issue the red alert when the smog was not that bad compared with even a week earlier?. Although Beijing's first red alert for smog was lifted four days later, news of the red alert spread fast and even my family and friends back home started calling me to find out how bad the situation was. Some even asked me if it was true that the Beijingers could not even breathe then. They were not aware that it was not the worst haze that Beijing has been through. The red alert, a four-tier emergency response system created in October 2013, was issued for the first time. It caused confusion because the smog situation then was not as severe as seen in Nov. Following the red alert, schools were closed, work at 3,500 outdoor construction sites suspended and 2,100 factories were ordered to halt operations. Beijing also closed several highway sections to reduce traffic and smoke pollution caused by the vehicles. WORST EVER HAZE, AIR INDEX BREACHES 500 MARK The worst ever haze that I experienced here was on Nov 30 where the air quality index breached the 500 mark, while the PM2.5 recorded at 624 micrograms per cubic meter. PM or particulate matter is the term for particles found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke and liquid droplets. The PM2.5 particles are air pollutants with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. These very fine pollutants could easily enter the lungs. The smog situation in Beijing will get worse especially during the coming winter due to stagnant winds as well as rising coal burning activities for heating purposes. STRICTER ENFORCEMENT NEEDED TO COMBAT SMOG? One may ask what are the Chinese authorities doing to overcome the haze that is seen constantly enveloping Beijing and many parts of China. The Beijing Municipal People's Government office has been doing its level best to address this problem but the outcome remains unsatisfactory. Vice mayor of Beijing Li Shixiang believed that stricter law enforcement aimed at cutting pollution, such as suspending work of polluting businesses had to be improved. "There are enterprises that close their doors when you go to inspect them and open soon after you leave," he was quoted as saying by the Xinhua News Agency. According to Li Shixiang, the current number of 36 air quality monitoring stations would be doubled and mobile monitoring vehicles would also be introduced as well. Furthermore, to improve the air quality there are plans to reduce the consumption of coal, limit the use of automobiles, cut industrial pollution and control dust from construction sites. The Beijing Municipal authority is planning a subsidiary administrative centre in suburban Tongzhou. The construction will start this year and likely to be completed in 2017 as part of the efforts to ease overcrowding in the capital. Located at the centre of Tongzhou, about 40 minutes drive from the centre of Beijing, the centre is one of several moves to cure "urban ills" including overpopulation, traffic congestion and smog. GREAT CHALLENGES COME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES While the people had to put up with the terrible smog, some turned the problem into an opportunity to make money. During the days where the air quality was very poor, air purifiers and masks were among the top search on Chinese online shopping platform, Taobao.com. According to Xinhua News Agency, the first red alert ever for smog in Beijing unleashed online discussions for tips mainly on masks and air purifiers before people joined the shopping rush. Online searches for masks and air purifiers have surged 148.4 percent and 56.5 percent month-on-month in the past 30 days and many sellers have ran out of stock due to the high demand. There is even a good market for specially designed masks for children and babies as well as air purifiers that can fit in a stroller. It appears that Beijingers have to put up with the smog for the time being and they will have to live through the many red alerts to come before an effective solution is found . -- BERNAMA