An environmental protection official who shouted at residents to get out of his office was suspended from his post, authorities said.

Some residents in Xizhongyi, Hebei province, went to the local environmental protection bureau on July 22 to report that a galvanizing mill was discharging untreated sewage, but Liang Qingchen, a deputy director of the bureau, denied it, saying the pollution had been stopped, and in an argument he scolded residents and reporters to get out of his office.

Liang's actions were recorded on video and put online, and were widely criticized by the public.

The city government decided to suspend him from his duties on July 22. Liang also went to the town to apologize to residents, according to Xinhua News Agency.

The city has organized a team consisting of experts, officials and media to investigate the issue. If the factory is found to be discharging polluted water directly into the ponds, it will receive severe punishment, authorities said.

At the same time, the city will conduct a new round of checks on pollution discharges from factories.