A couple tackle the pollution in a shopping district amid heavy smog after the capital issued its first ever "red alert" for air pollution on Dec 8, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Three environmental protection officials in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, were recently detained for tampering with air quality monitoring data by gaining unauthorized access to a local monitoring station with a duplicate key and masking the monitoring equipment so that it would give lower pollution readings.

A series of measures have been taken by the higher authorities to prevent the doctoring of air quality data, including conducting remote monitoring, but the accountability mechanism for environmental protection has not completely prevented the pollution data from being manipulated.

At a meeting on environmental monitoring in April 2015, Wu Xiaoqing, then vice-minister of environmental protection, warned that the fabricating of false air quality data by local officials damaged the integrity of the monitoring system and thus seriously compromised the credibility of the government and the environmental protection watchdog.

Compared with the past when almost no relevant officials were punished, the recent investigation launched against the three environment officials in Xi'an signals the authorities' determination to punish those caught tampering with data.

Compared with enterprises, the fabricating of better looking pollution data by environmental protection officials, as law enforcers, will lead to more adverse consequences. Any deliberate cover-up by them will set a bad example for enterprises and also undermines the public's right to know.

The country's new environmental protection law, which came into force on Jan 1, 2015, stipulates that monitoring agencies are responsible for providing authentic data and they will be held accountable for any falsification of the data.

The adulteration of the data in Xi'an once again highlights the need for the authorities to show zero tolerance toward any deception concerning air quality monitoring data and ensure those responsible pay a high price.

--Beijing News