ID :
14121
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 20:07
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/14121
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China comes up with a plan to control pollution during Games
Beijing, July 28 (PTI) With Olympics barely 11 days away, and the skies over Beijing still not clear, Chinese authorities have come up with an emergency plan that would lead to 90 per cent of the private vehicles going off theroads during the Games.
"We will implement an emergency plan 48 hours in advance if the air quality deteriorates during the August 8-24 Games," Li Xin, a senior engineer who has prepared the plan for the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau, was quoted as sayingby the state-run China Daily.
The Air Pollution Index (A.P.I.) has remained above 100, the national standard for good air quality in the past fourdays.
More vehicles could go off the roads and all construction sites and more factories in Beijing and its neighbourhood could be closed temporarily if the air quality deterioratesduring Olympics, state media said.
Special measures for the August 8-24 Games are likely to be announced soon, the state-run China Daily said quoting thecity’s environment authority.
An environmentalist Zhu Tong has proposed keeping up to 90 per cent of private vehicles off the streets during the Games and allowing only those whose licence plate ends withthe last digit of the date, it said.
The Chinese capital was shrouded in smog Sunday andthe A.P.I. was noted to be between 103 and 124.
Hot and sultry weather with occasional breeze and the still high emission level have triggered fresh concerns overweather during the Olympic Games.
"The smog was likely to have been caused by poor weather and emissions both," Du Shaozhong, Deputy Director of theBeijing Environmental Bureau, said Sunday.
He also said tougher plans were ready to safeguardathletes’ health.
Athletes have began arriving here since Sunday and the numbers would swell this week ahead of the Games commencing onAugust eight.
Olympics is considered a national prestige by China which has been battling pollution in Beijing for the past few yearsthrough a series of measures.
In the latest and last-ditch effort, Beijing had launched a drastic plan July 20 pulling off half of nearly 3.30 millionvehicles from the roads.
The shutdown for a two-month period allows vehicles with even and odd plate numbers to run on alternate days, apartfrom shutting down several polluting factories.
Beijing had pledged Saturday to maintain air quality at"good or moderate levels" during the Games.
"Keeping an eligible air condition for the Olympic Games is a promise made by the Chinese government and we will honourour commitment," Du said.
"We will implement an emergency plan 48 hours in advance if the air quality deteriorates during the August 8-24 Games," Li Xin, a senior engineer who has prepared the plan for the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau, was quoted as sayingby the state-run China Daily.
The Air Pollution Index (A.P.I.) has remained above 100, the national standard for good air quality in the past fourdays.
More vehicles could go off the roads and all construction sites and more factories in Beijing and its neighbourhood could be closed temporarily if the air quality deterioratesduring Olympics, state media said.
Special measures for the August 8-24 Games are likely to be announced soon, the state-run China Daily said quoting thecity’s environment authority.
An environmentalist Zhu Tong has proposed keeping up to 90 per cent of private vehicles off the streets during the Games and allowing only those whose licence plate ends withthe last digit of the date, it said.
The Chinese capital was shrouded in smog Sunday andthe A.P.I. was noted to be between 103 and 124.
Hot and sultry weather with occasional breeze and the still high emission level have triggered fresh concerns overweather during the Olympic Games.
"The smog was likely to have been caused by poor weather and emissions both," Du Shaozhong, Deputy Director of theBeijing Environmental Bureau, said Sunday.
He also said tougher plans were ready to safeguardathletes’ health.
Athletes have began arriving here since Sunday and the numbers would swell this week ahead of the Games commencing onAugust eight.
Olympics is considered a national prestige by China which has been battling pollution in Beijing for the past few yearsthrough a series of measures.
In the latest and last-ditch effort, Beijing had launched a drastic plan July 20 pulling off half of nearly 3.30 millionvehicles from the roads.
The shutdown for a two-month period allows vehicles with even and odd plate numbers to run on alternate days, apartfrom shutting down several polluting factories.
Beijing had pledged Saturday to maintain air quality at"good or moderate levels" during the Games.
"Keeping an eligible air condition for the Olympic Games is a promise made by the Chinese government and we will honourour commitment," Du said.
