Courts fight to protect Yangtze River Basin

Thousands arrested or punished for damage to environmental resources

The procuratorial departments in 11 provinces and cities along the Yangtze River Economic Belt approved the arrest of 7,084 people in 4,336 cases suspected of destroying the environment of the Yangtze River Basin in 2019, said the Supreme People's Procuratorate on Tuesday.

They also prosecuted 22,310 people for polluting the environment, according to a white paper on ensuring the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt issued by the SPP.

Zhang Xueqiao, deputy head of the SPP, noted that procuratorial organs will continue to severely punish criminals who damage environmental resources of the Yangtze River Basin.