عبدالباسط کړوخېل
KABUL
(Pajhwok): With the onset of winter, concerns about air pollution and its hazardous effect on people’s health have increased in central capital Kabul.
In addition to dust, the use of poor quality and smoky fuel such as coal is one of the causes of air pollution in the city of about seven million people.
Due to lack of electricity, liquefied natural gas and widespread poverty, people use coal, wood, plastic and even car tires and thus polluting the capital air tens of times above the universal accuracy.
Abdul Hadi Achakzai, head of Afghanistan Environmental Satisfaction Network, expressed his concern about the increasing air pollution in Kabul and said Kabul was bowl-shape and its polluted air and dust could not be carried away by the wind.
According to him, air pollution has a great impact on human health and stressed cooperation and efforts of people and responsible institutions to prevent environmental pollution because the environment has a direct and close relationship with people and social life.
Wais Ahmadi, a citizen of Kabul, said he was concerned about the environmental situation in Kabul.
"Most of the time, local people themselves pollute the environment by dumping garbage and not observing cleanliness of their toilets," he said, emphasizing serious attention of the authorities and people to prevent air pollution.
"People’s involvement in environment protection in form of cooperation with the municipality can solve many problems and prevent diseases.”
Asma Ayoubi, a student and resident of Kabul, said attention should be paid to reducing the air pollution which threatens human life.
According to her, people are unaware of their environment and lack of awareness of the dangers of environmental pollution adds to this problem.
Engineer Hassan Gholami, Head of Environmental Health at Kabul Municipality, also confirmed the increase in air pollution in Kabul, saying it was mostly due to the use of low-quality fuel, old cars and coal.
He said to reduce pollution in Kabul, they developed a joint plan between the environment department, Kabul municipality and the Interior Ministry.
Under the plan, he said, out of about 500 high-rise buildings last year, only 149 were built. "We have installed air filters and now we are seeing the installation of other filters in Kabul.”
He noted that the department, in cooperation with the relevant departments, was working to reduce air pollution in Kabul by 40 percent through a large-scale program.
Without elaborating on the plan and when it will be implemented, he said the government should work to develop a plan for Kabul citizens to use liquefied natural gas and electricity instead of smoky fuel.
Meanwhile, electricity price has been increased in Kabul and power utility officials say the problem of electricity shortage in Kabul will not be resolved this winter.
Emphasizing on the role of media in preventing this problem, Engineer Hassan Gholami said, "The media covers 99 percent of political events and it must have a plan for people's environment and inform people to be aware of the dangers of the environment pollution.”
Pajhwok failed to contact the National Environment Protection Agency despite efforts.
bk/ma
Tags:
air pollution