China has fined polluting companies more than 686 million yuan ($99.7 million) in the first 10 months of the year, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said on Nov 30.

Over the same period, environmental authorities seized the equipment of more than 6,000 companies that were contaminating the environment, a year-on-year increase of 90 percent, the ministry said.

In addition, at least 1,700 people responsible for pollution were detained, up 86 percent compared with the same period last year, it added.