BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- At a Monday meeting, China's top legislature emphasized monitoring the implementation of a solid waste control law.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), presided over the meeting.

The solid waste control law is important to the country's environmental protection to improve national health, protect the environment and promote sustainable development, said Zhang.

He underlined the need for the government to strongly punish any violation of the law.

The NPC Standing Committee will dispatch teams to monitor the implementation of the law between May and August.

Zhang said the NPC should intensify publicity and education on the solid waste control law and elevate public awareness of solid waste management.

The NPC will also launch a nationwide survey on the implementation of the solid waste control law on the websites of the NPC, Xinhua News Agency and People's Daily.