Chinese environmental officials are facing increasing pressure from not only their superiors but also the public, who have become more daring in voicing their criticisms and concerns over pollution.

There has been a recent surge in residents mocking local officials for their failure to fight pollution and expressing their anger online, forcing officials to respond to their appeals. Such a phenomenon is only likely to snowball with World Environment Day set to be marked on June 5.

In the latest case, netizens in east China's Zhejiang Province requested Su Zhongjie, head of the environmental protection bureau of Cangnan County in the economic boom city of Wenzhou, visit and apologize to a heroic policeman who was sickened by polluted river water while rescuing a drowning girl.

Zhang Guangcong developed symptoms of coughing, vomiting and burning eyes after he jumped into a smelly river in Jinxiang Township and saved a 14-year-old girl who tried to kill herself on May 16.

Doctors with a local hospital said bacterial infection in Zhang's lungs caused by the dirty river water led to his illness.

Su apologized to the policeman on Thursday, adding that the best way to pay him respect would be to ensure the environment is better protected.

Plastic bags, instant noodle boxes and rotten food is piled along the banks of the river into which Zhang jumped, and household factories can be spotted nearby, making everything from rice products to badges.

The river is among 680 polluted waterways identified by Wenzhou's government in a campaign launched in March to fight river pollution. In their praise for Zhang, the public have also dubbed him "the first man in Wenzhou to test river pollution."

He has won this dubious honor despite a stunt by netizens in February in which they offered rewards of 200,000 yuan (32,258 U.S. dollars) to 300,000 yuan via Weibo.com to heads of local environment bureaus willing to swim in polluted rivers.

Photos indicating the river's pollution triggered public anger.

Ahead of World Environment Day, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for comprehensive counter-pollution efforts. Speaking during an ecological construction study session with members of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, he suggested a mechanism targeting those behind irresponsible decision-making that leads to severe environmental consequences.

INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS

With living conditions greatly improved in recent decades, Chinese people have increasingly paid more attention to environmental issues.

A report to the 18th National Congress of the CPC last year emphasized the importance of ecological progress and advocated the building of a "beautiful China" in the country's development plan.

And political advisors and deputies to the national people's congress inundated the annual legislative and political advisory sessions with proposals relating to environmental issues such as smog.

In addition, the Internet has provided a platform for environmental whistle-blowers. Eye-catching photos or videos uploaded to the web often arouse public concern and calls for government reaction.