Experts called for heavier penalties to be imposed on chemical projects violating environmental laws after the Environment Ministry fined a project in East China 200,000 yuan ($32,130).

The ministry also halted construction of the plant in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, designed to produce 800,000 metric tons of paraxylene, or PX, a year. Paraxylene is a chemical used to manufacture pesticide, plastics and polyester, and poses a health risk in humans.

The plant was originally planned for the tourist city of Xiamen, which is also in the province. But after thousands took to the streets in the city in 2007 to protest the project, it was relocated to Zhangzhou in 2009.