Anti-pollution campaign launched in Herat City

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): A week-long campaign against growing air pollution got under way in the capital of western Herat province on Thursday.

The campaign had been jointly organised by the Environment.

During the week, Environment Department head Nasir Ahmad Fazli told Pajhwok Afghan News,residents and drivers would be educated on harmful effects of pollution.

People will be informed about the climate change, diseases caused by air pollution, the importance of cleanliness and different ways of preventing pollution.

“This center has created filters for public bathhouses with the assistance of the municipalityto stop smoke from spreading,” he said. Smoke-emitting vehicles and public bathhousesare the main reason behind the air pollution in the city.

Old cars should be fixed or stopped from plying roads, he suggested, warning offenderswould be fined 1000 afghanis by the Traffic and Environment Department at the end of the week.

Traffic police head Aminullah Maihanyar pledged stopping old and damaged cars from plying city to check pollution.

“There are more than 300,000 vehicles in this city. Some of them are partly damaged and cause air pollution. We want the drivers to repair their cars,” he added.

Eng. Wakil Ahmad Barak, an environmental expert, feared air pollution in Herat might increase further, if not controlled.

smea/mud