Environment
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| Air pollution has reached alarming levels in some areas of Hà Nội in the past week. — Photo baogiaothong.vn |
Viet Nam News
HÀ NỘI — Air pollution in the capital city, which has been bad since last Tuesday, is so severe now that health experts have warned people to stay indoors.
The Air Quality Index at various air monitoring stations across Hà Nội showed dangerously high levels on Monday night. For instance, it was at 214 at Nhổn Street in Bắc Từ Liêm District, which is very high. Earlier, last Thursday, the index had touched 294 here, while it was at 263 on Phạm Văn Đồng Street.
Hà Nội People’s Committee Chairman Nguyễn Đức Chung admitted that the city’s air quality was at “red alert level”.
At a recent meeting with concerned agencies, Chung had said that the high level of air pollution was the result of the large number of cars and motorcycles in the city that have crossed their expiry dates.
“Hà Nội has nearly six million motorcycles, of which 2.5 million crossed their expiry date and should be banned on roads. These vehicles are seriously polluting the environment,” he told Zing online newspaper.
Chung also blamed the worsening of the air quality on road constructions and industries.
Drastic measures would be adopted to curb the problem and improve air quality, he said. The city would ask project investors to spend on waste treatment systems and use eco-friendly technologies.
In the future, Hà Nội will add 80 observation posts for recording air pollution. — VNS
