China's central environment inspectors have listed major pollution problems in several provinces, urging local authorities to do more to protect the environment.

On Tuesday, inspection teams dispatched by central authorities reported their feedback to the governments of Heilongjiang, Henan and Jiangsu provinces, who are the first group of eight targeted regions.

While recognizing protection efforts in natural forests, soil and water, the inspectors pointed out such problems as slack pollution control monitoring, illegal constructions at nature reserves and insufficient household garbage treatment in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang.

The central Henan province faces serious air pollution and a sharp rebound of major pollutants in some rivers, the inspectors told Henan authorities.

The air pollution in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, has been worsening since 2013 and the densities of PM10 and PM2.5 in the province both ranked second in the country in the first half of this year.

The inspectors also highlighted poor industrial waste treatment at some chemical plants in the eastern coastal Jiangsu province.

In response, authorities in the three provinces have pledged to solve the problems.

Henan have punished 1,231 people and detained 31 for pollution problems. Jiangsu ordered more than 2,700 companies to improve pollution control and detained 108 people. Similar penalties were adopted in Heilongjiang.

Since July, central environment protection inspection teams have carried out a month of supervision in eight provinces or regions. They will give their feedback to local authorities.