A team of "environment police" will soon start patrolling Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong province.

The environment police will be affiliated to the Guangzhou Environmental Supervision Institute after its founding on Oct. 29.

In 1981, the Guangzhou Environmental Supervision Institute was set up to collect fees for sewage discharge, but its functions have been multiplying with the city's economic boom.

After 11 years of development and changes, the institute found their staff and powers insufficient to cope with environment situations. They applied to form a team of "environment police" endowed with expanded law enforcement power.

The force will be able to oversee the city's environment and protect ecological resources such as wildlife and water resources.

(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2003)