RESOLUTION ON REDUCING AIR POLLUTION TO BE ISSUED

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The cabinet meeting on Saturday made a decision to issue a governmental resolution on measures of reducing air pollution. This meeting ran openly with a participation of the State Head Ts.Elbegdorj. The Minister of Environment and Green Development S.Oyun and a head of the National committee on reducing air pollution in the city P.Tsagaan gave reports on the related works and their results. Air pollution reduced by about 20 per cent in the coldest period of Ulaanbaatar thanks to taking a package measure such as providing ger areas with smoke-free ovens and pressed fuels. Toxic ingredient content in the pollution reduced by 80 per cent as well. But there were some faults and mistakes, officials said, for example, a goal was not fulfilled to reduce the air pollution by 50 per cent because a semi-coke fuel factory wa not put into use in a scheduled period at the #2 thermal power station of the city. After the reports, presentations were made by Ts.Bayarsaikhan, the Minister of Construction and Urban Development; E.Bat-Uul, the Mayor of Ulaanbaatar city; and N.Batbayar, the Minister of Economic Development on the governmental policy to be done for improving a plan of ger areas in the city, constructing apartments and tackling the engineering infrastructure. One hundred thousand apartments will be erected in Ulaanbaatar, but in place of ger areas not in the city's center, E.Bat-Uul noted. He added that the governmental policy focuses not only on tackling the air pollution, but also on regulating the traffic jam and unplanned infrastructure and on solving problems of soil and water pollutions which has reached a level of threatening the national security. The Minister of Economic Development N.Batbayar introduced a programme named “Street”. This programme aims to implement some projects on constructing highways and tackling the infrastructure matters. Mr Elbegdorj clarified some issues, and gave the cabinet directions such as slackening the migration of countryside people to the city. The PM thanked the President for backing their works, and decided to issue a governmental resolution on reducing air pollution. This resolution has six clauses on several obligations and responsibilities. B.Khuder