KABUL - Deputy head of NEPA Azizullah Sidiqi announced the strategy, prepared in coordination with 13 sectors, at a press conference late on Sunday.
Sidiqi said air pollution reached an alarming level in Kabul last year. NEPA devised the plan to protect the capital from harmful effects of pollution.
Urban and transport sectors, National Standard Authority, National Reform Authority, Gas and Fuel Authority, public health and power sectors and ministries of education, information, mines and petroleum, commerce and industry and agriculture cooperated with NEPA in preparing the plan.
Kabul Governor Mohammad Yaqub Haidari suggested gas should be used instead of other things to prevent air pollution.
Haidari proposed a ban on brick kilns in Paghman, Qarabagh, and Deh Sabz districts to keep the environment clean in Kabul .
Public awareness programmes should be conducted to resolve the issue, he said, adding about 470,000 unplanned houses had been constructed in the capital whose residents used low-quality coal that contributed to air pollution .
Deputy Minister of Urban Development Roshan Wolesmal said the construction of townships, which did not have plans to protect the environment, would not be allowed .
He added they had shared their input with NEPA to combat growing pollution in the nation ’s capital. (Pajhwok )