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 MEP on Sept. 10 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 NDRC and the ministries of supervision, finance, housing and urban-rural development.

Environmental Protection Minister Zhou Shengxian told the meeting that the new measure would take effect early next year, although he did not reveal what penalties would be handed out.