Erbil's environmental cleanup continues, no one exempted - Governor
"Warehouses and refineries have been given a specific timeframe to address their smoke emissions and comply with environmental standards," Khoshnaw told Kurdistan24. "Failure to do so will result in legal action."
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – On Thursday, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw reaffirmed that the ongoing environmental cleanup campaign in Erbil will continue without exception, holding accountable those who previously disregarded environmental regulations.
"Warehouses and refineries have been given a specific timeframe to address their smoke emissions and comply with environmental standards," Khoshnaw told Kurdistan24. "Failure to do so will result in legal action."
He emphasized, "We will not tolerate any pollution that harms the health of our citizens."
This announcement follows a recent meeting on August 4th, chaired by Governor Khoshnaw, where several key decisions were made to combat environmental pollution in Erbil. These include the closure of 138 illegal refineries, a 10-day deadline for legal refineries to meet environmental requirements, and immediate action required from factories, especially bitumen plants, to address environmental concerns.
Additional measures include a one-week ultimatum for private generators to implement environmental measures, a crackdown on smoking vehicles by the Erbil Traffic Directorate, and ensuring the thermal power plant adheres to environmental and health standards.
Governor Khoshnaw also urged the Ministry of Natural Resources to cease providing crude oil equipment to illegal refineries and stressed that any official compromising on these decisions would face consequences. He assured that progress updates would be released weekly, highlighting this initiative's importance within the Kurdistan Regional Government's agenda.
"No company or individual is more important to us than the citizens of Erbil and the Kurdistan Region," Khoshnaw asserted.
Environmental activist Rojgar Mohsin noted a positive shift, stating, "The poisonous smoke from refineries severely affected Erbil's environment and residents' health. However, we've recently noticed a cleaner environment and a clearer city skyline."
This decisive action underscores the government's commitment to prioritize public health and environmental preservation in Erbil.