The funds were meant to go toward 397 projects in 18 provinces, with some regions seeing serious failings in enforcing environmental protection laws, said the report.
China’s National Audit Office has told 31 provinces to check use of funds to treat water pollution, Xinhua said.
In December, the audit office said more than 3,000 people had been punished and 160 billion yuan in funds « rectified » during an audit of the 2015 budget.
