A man rides in smog-shrouded Harbin city, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, Oct 22, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - An inspection campaign on how air pollution is being controlled will be launched in key areas of China, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has announced.

The inspection, to be carried out from this month to March next year, will target areas including regions around Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province, the Yangtze and Pearl river delta regions, as well as the middle of Northeast China's Liaoning province, Central China's Hunan province and the Taiwan Strait's west bank, according to a ministry spokesman.

The inspection team will check on how local governments are enforcing the Airborne Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan, which is aimed at reducing air pollution with stricter limits on the levels of PM2.5, airborne particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in diameter.

The inspection will focus on the operation of desulfurization, denitrification and dedusting facilities at enterprises, pollutant emissions and the replacement of coal-fired boilers.

Small companies violating air pollution control regulations will be shut down.

Departments and officials found to be breaking the law will be held responsible. Media organizations are invited to participate in the inspection.

China has been under growing pressure to address the causes of air pollution as smog frequently smothers the country's large cities.

The government aims to cut the density of inhalable particulate matter by at least 10 percent in major cities by 2017.

PM2.5, a key indicator of air pollution, should fall by about 25 percent from 2012 levels in Beijing and surrounding provincial areas by 2017.

The Yangtze and Pearl river delta regions should see reductions of 20 and 15 percent respectively from 2012 levels over the same period.