China's environmental watchdog punished 15 factories, as well as companies in two industrial parks, in the first quarter of the year for violations resulting in water or air pollution.

The factories either had their production suspended, were given a deadline to correct their practices or were ordered to move their projects to other places and compensate those affected, said a release from the Ministry of Environmental Protection on May 8.

The plants were punished for excessive or illegal discharges of exhaust gas and waste water, as well as noise and dust pollution, the statement said.