The Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress has convened its bimonthly meeting, making preparations for the annual congress session next month. Law makers also reviewed a draft amendment to the Production Safety Law which stipulates more strict supervision and harsher punishments for violators.

The deadly oil pipeline blasts last year in Qingdao--an economic zone in east China’s Shandong Province, triggered alarm bells when it came to safety.

The State Administration of Work Safety said the poor layout of the oil pipelines and urban drainage pipes was one of the causes of the accident.

President Xi Jinping has ordered a large-scale safety check and warned various industries to learn lessons from that fatal explosion. It also caught the attention of law makers, who are now tasked with making necessary changes to the law.

"One of the highlights of the draft is that it emphasizes more entity responsibility to the enterprises when it comes to production safety supervision. It gives the supervision bodies more power to punish any illegal activities regarding safety production," said Yang Dongliang, Director of State Adminstration of Work Safety.

The present law has been enacted to strengthen the supervision and administration of production safety, prevent and reduce accidents, ensure public safety both in lives and property, and promote the development of the economy.

Yang admits that current Production Safety Laws lack specific measures for punishment and supervision.

He said the responsibility of planners and managers in urban planning should be clarified and the role of public monitoring should be strengthened to improve the situation.

During the three-day bimonthly session, the top legislature will also prepare for the annual congress session which is to be held next month. Lawmakers will review a work report of the top legislature and a draft schedule and a draft list of the presidium for the annual congress session.