China's environment watchdog has warned local government leaders that they face penalties over failures to clean up the country's major rivers and lakes.

The Ministry of Environment Protection on Wednesday put the leaders of 21 provincial-level governments on notice that they would be held personally accountable for the continued pollution of seven main waterways.

The ministry announced the measure at a national meeting on water pollution prevention in east China's Jinan, which was attended by officials from the National Development and Reform Commission and the ministries of supervision, finance, housing and urban-rural development.

China's environment watchdog has warned local government leaders that they face penalties over failures to clean up the country's major rivers and lakes.

The Ministry of Environment Protection on Wednesday put the leaders of 21 provincial-level governments on notice that they would be held personally accountable for the continued pollution of seven main waterways.

The ministry announced the measure at a national meeting on water pollution prevention in east China's Jinan, which was attended by officials from the National Development and Reform Commission and the ministries of supervision, finance, housing and urban-rural development.

(China Daily September 12, 2008)