GER AREAS PRODUCE AROUND 80 PERCENT OF ULAANBAATAR SMOG

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ “Reduction of air pollution in the capital city comes down to the reduction of smoke produced by ger areas,” said academician D.Regdel, President of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences on January 3. He made a report on the follow-up actions of a Prime Ministerial ordinance issued on January 6, 2017. Former Prime Minister J.Erdenebat had formed a working group of scientists and tasked them to find solutions to reduce air pollution. The academician pointed out that ger areas contribute 80 percent of smog in the capital city whereas vehicles generate 12-13 percent of smog and chimneys of steam boilers about 7-8 percent. The working group consisted of three sub-groups working in three directions – energy, heat supply solution and reduction of vehicle smoke. “It is necessary to provide cost-effective warm pads to 200 thousand households in order to reduce heat loss, build a factory of thermal accumulators which maintain and reserve heat at minus 20-24 degrees Celsius, and expand the electricity distribution network,” he said. It has been calculated that MNT 55.8 billion will be required to build a new electricity distribution network in the capital city and MNT 24 billion to expand the current network. The scientists also suggested some additional measures such as converting public transport diesel buses to gas and imposing vehicle taxes proportional to the amount of harmful pollutants emitted. “Overall, there is a possibility to reduce air pollution if we take decisive measures, adapt a comprehensive plan, and ensure accountability in the implementation,” the academician concluded in his report delivered at the second meeting of a parliamentary working group on air pollution reduction. Formed on December 28 pursuant to an ordinance of Parliament Speaker M.Enkhbold, the working group is designed to draft bills and recommendations during necessary inspection of the implementation of resolutions and decisions on air pollution reduction issued by the Parliament, Parliamentary Standing Committees and Sub-Committees, and supervise the Cabinet regarding the same. The working group met for the first time on December 28. During the January 3 meeting, working group leader, MP Yo.Baatarbileg had pointed out that the second meeting of the working group aimed to discuss the view and recommendations of scientists on air pollution. After the discussion of the report, the working group members agreed to work in ger areas to obtain first-hand information on the situation of households in ger areas, and familiarize with anti-air pollution operations run by government and non-government organizations and entities. On January 4-12, three sub-groups led by MPs S.Byambatsogt, L.Oyun-Erdene and L.Eldev-Ochir will work in districts. The working group also agreed to hold a joint meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committees on Environment, Food and Agriculture and Social Policy, Education, Culture and Science to discuss the establishment of a sub-working group and drafting of air pollution bills. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Sport, the National Committee on Environmental Pollution Reduction, Mayor’s Office and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences. Kh.Aminaa