China has spent $20.34 bn to combat chronic air pollution. (AP photo)

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NEW DELHI: China's capital has spent 140 billion yuan ($20.34 billion) to combat chronic pollution and create a clean, green Beijing ahead of the August 8-24 Olympics.

Here are some of the measures the city, home to 15 million people and 3 million cars, is taking to green up:

SWITCHING TO GAS FROM COAL : Already the top consumer of natural gas among Chinese cities, Beijing's usage grew to an estimated 4.7 billion cubic metres in 2007 as it tried to cut back on the 26 million tonnes of polluting coal it consumes a year. By the end of 2006, 15,200 coal-fired boilers, out of 16,300 in the city, had been converted to natural gas or other clean fuels.

CLOSING OR RELOCATING HEAVY POLLUTERS : Steel-maker Capital Steel, long Beijing's worst polluter, has relocated most operations out of the city to coastal Hebei province, with the rest to follow by 2010. In July 2006, production ceased at another major polluter, the Beijing Coking and Chemical Factory, which had been responsible for 7,300 tonnes of dust and 7,500 tonnes of sulphur dioxide in annual emissions.

GREENING THE TRANSPORT SYSTEM : To cut pollution from private cars, which pump out 80 per cent of the carbon monoxide in Beijing skies, new emission standards implemented in 2005 were tightened in January 2008. A new north-south subway line opened in October 2007. Ticket prices were set at two yuan (about 29 cents) to woo commuters off the roads. Spectators with Olympics tickets will travel free on public transport during the Games. Beijing retired or refitted 47,000 old taxis, and about 7,000 old diesel buses, out of a fleet of 60,000 taxis and 19,000 buses. A new fleet of 3,795 buses powered by natural gas are already on the road.

COVERING DUST FROM CONSTRUCTION : Beijing's 100 million square metres of construction sites have been asked to cover their dirt and dust. Sites found to be causing dust pollution will be hit with fines.

RECYCLING WATER : The dry northern capital has had eight successive years of drought. To conserve water, it obtained 10 per cent, 360 million cubic metres, from recycled and reclaimed sources in 2006.

CONTROLLING SANDSTORMS : A huge 7.7 billion yuan ($1.12 billion) Olympic Green Forest Park has been created on a mountain 70 km north of the capital, to shield it from dust and sand storms that whip through it in spring between March and May.