BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities on Wednesday released an action plan for air pollution control in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and nearby areas, setting specific targets for the autumn and winter season.

The average density of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that causes smog, should drop by 4 percent from Oct. 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020, compared with the same period last year, according to the plan jointly released by several government agencies including the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the National Development and Reform Commission.

The number of days with severe pollution should fall by 6 percent, said the plan.

Despite the improvement in air quality, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and nearby areas still face a grim situation in the autumn and winter season during which the PM2.5 density usually doubled that in other seasons, according to the action plan.

Due to El Nino effect, weather conditions this year require stronger measures to offset the negative impacts, as the year 2020 is crucial for China to win the battle for blue skies, the plan stressed.

Among the mandatory targets listed for local regions, Hebei province is required to close 14 million tonnes of steel capacities, 3 million tonnes of coke, one million tonnes of cement as well as 6.6 million weight boxes of flat glass capacities. Enditem

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