Gov't developing action plan for air quality in KMTR - Vaz

The Minister without portfolio with responsibility for the Environment Daryl Vaz on Tuesday disclosed that the Source Emission Reduction Strategy and Plan of Action to deal with air quality issues in the Kingston Metropolitan Area is being implemented. 

Vaz made the disclosure while contributing to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament. 

“The Plan targets the closure of illegal sites and removal of solid waste including tyres, community sensitisation and awareness building strategies to address ‘minor’ sources of air pollution, deployment of additional air quality monitors and the development of a national programme for the environmentally sound management of used tyres,” said Vaz. 

He noted the fire which raged in the Riverton community last week caused by the burning of tyres.

According to Vaz, approximately 300 used tyres are sent to the Riverton landfill daily, which he said poses a public health hazard.  

Vaz also stated that a draft Emissions Policy Framework for Jamaica, which will regulate emissions from major sectors such as transportation and electricity, has been developed.

“It is anticipated that the draft Policy Framework will be approved by the Cabinet as a Green Paper early in the 2018/19 financial year, which will allow the necessary public consultations on this document,” he said.

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