News from a special meeting held by the Yunnan Provincial Government on environmental protection and sustainable development of Dongchuan is that 22 companies in the area have been fined a total of RMB3.9 million for illegal construction and pollution emissions.

In August last year, Xinhua News Agency published a report on the serious pollution problem existing in parts of Dongchuan area in Kunming city and this has received wide attention from the State Environment Protection Administration and Yunnan Provincial Government.

During an investigation in the area, the environmental watchdog of Yunnan Province found that some companies there did not implement the government's industry policies and used backward equipment that consumed much energy and produced pollution, while others ignored the nation's laws and regulations by constructing projects without undergoing any environmental audits. Kunming Municipal Government says they will continue to support Dongchuan area's economic and social development as well the environmental protection efforts to promote sustainable development of the area.