 The Shanxi provincial government recently said it will offer big prizes to local officials who successfully reduce air pollution in their locality. The prizes vary from 100 to 200 million yuan.
Reporter:
Guangzhou Daily carries an article, saying government officials are responsible for pollution control. They should try their best to protect the environment, otherwise their work is inefficient. They have no reason to take more money from tax payers to do the work that's already within their responsibilities. The article further points out officials know it¡¯s very hard to tackle the long existing environmental problems. As long as they can still get their salaries and other benefits they won¡¯t really work hard on it. The writer thus concludes big prizes should be replaced with heavy punishment to push officials to actually take action.
The paper Chinese Business has one opinion agreeing we have seldom punished those officials when pollution gets worse. Some officials give support to potentially polluting projects for short-term benefits. Now the provincial government is putting up a reward scheme for high officials only. In fact, much of the environmental protection work is done by grassroots worker. It¡¯s unfair to neglect their efforts. The opinion also argues the money they are paying out comes from public finances. The government has no right to use public money without getting the approval from the provincial people¡¯s congress.
One writer from the Beijing Youth Daily explains offering prizes is applicable according to the environment protection law. However, these prizes are excessive. Lured by the prizes, some officials may make use of political loopholes from their predecessors. This would make the prizes very difficult to get. The writer also says punishment should goes along with prizes. In addition, they should listen to opinions from all of society when setting up such a system.
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