Beijing says no to normalizing odd-even traffic ban  

(ECNS) -- The odd-even traffic ban adopted by Beijing during the APEC meetings will not be normalized, the Beijing News said, citing the capital city's Environmental Protection Bureau.

Beijing's environmental authorities on Thursday released air quality data from November 1 to November 12, with PM 2.5 levels, a key indicator of air pollution, dropping by 55 percent compared with the same period last year.

The city restricted the use of private cars based on their license plates, and ordered factories and construction sites to close during the meetings.

Fang Li, the bureau's spokesman, said those measures were temporary and won't be normalized.

Cars discharged 47.3 percent of the capital's PM 2.5 during the APEC week, while the average number in 2013 was 31.3 percent.

Li Kunsheng, director in charge of exhaust emissions at the bureau, explained that the halt of factories and construction sites made the portion of vehicle emissions increase.

The city might restrict vehicles with emission standards meeting the National Phase I, equivalent to Euro 1, Li said. Getting rid of one million vehicles with emission standards meeting National Phases I and II would greatly reduce air pollutants, he added.

Fang also said the city's Heavy Air Pollution Contingency Plan might be revised, following the successful experience during the APEC week, as the plan stipulates emergency measures when there is already pollution.

"Now citizens can understand why emergency measures should be adopted beforehand," Fang added.