BEIJING — China will launch a nationwide campaign to handle all old cases on rivers and lakes in a bid to maintain good order in water affairs and ensure sound conditions of rivers and lakes, according to the Ministry of Water Resources on May 21.

According to an action plan, the country will complete the investigation of almost all pending cases on rivers and lakes recorded before 2018 by June next year.

Meanwhile, China will also properly investigate new illegal cases and rectify illicit behaviors registered in 2019.

Illegal occupation of rivers and lakes, sand mining, water extraction and soil erosion caused by human activity are high on the agenda.

China is waging a tough war against ecological and environmental pollution, with special and concrete actions taken to cope with pollution along the country’s two longest rivers, namely the Yellow River and Yangtze River.