Outrageous

An industrial chemical zone in Pengze County, Jiangxi Province, was exposed to have concealed its serious pollution by temporarily shutting down the plants when central environmental investigators came to inspect the area, then reopening them after they left. The scandal was revealed after people noted that the local sky remained dark and dirty despite the central government’s inspection. Netizens wondered whether someone was leaking information to the plants, tipping them off about the inspection, with the local environmental authorities turning a blind eye to the severe pollution.