NCR Induces Gross Amount System on Air Pollution Substance

Gross Amount exhaust allowance system would be carried out from year 2004, step by step in order to improve air pollution situation of NCR (National Capital Region) besides Seoul, which is becoming worse, at the level of average OECD within 10 years.

Environment Minister, Kim Myong-Ja reported work plan to be carried out in this year to President Kim Dae-Jung on 27th, which had main subject such as promotion of special measures called `blue sky 21` in order to improve the quality of air in Capital area.

Ministry of Environment (MOE), decided to promote legislation of special law for improving air quality in NCR in order to establish special measures, which has contents such as applying gross amount exhaust allowing system and it divides NCR like Seoul, Kyong-gi, In-cheon, etc by influence of air pollution substance within this year, and to arrange lawful basis.

MOE plans to define air pollution substance that is subject to gross amount system for allowing exhaust as nitrogen oxide and minute dust (PM10) and reduce the gross amount of exhaust at factories, power plants and cars in NCR, gradually.

In this case, the enterprise which didn`t achieve the prescribed amount of reduction of exhaust gas would pay penalty.

MOE also decided to reinforce standard of allowing exhaust for cars which will be manufactured from 2006 as the level of advanced nation and to promote measures to apply more strict standards in NCR.

Besides, MOE would establish comprehensive management system in four major river areas so that Han river can improve to first grade water and Nakdong river, Geum river and Youngsan river, to second grade till 2005 year.

For this, it will affirm basic guidance for managing gross amount of pollution in Nakdong river, Geum river and Young san river, and will be introduced in Han river which didn`t have the management system till now,

For supplying stable drinking water, it will invest 177.2 billion won to fishing and agrarian villages so that 136 water supply facilities can be expanded and water supply in villages can be raised from current 28 percent to 55 percent till 2005 year.

And MOE will increase category of water quality condition for drinking water from current 49 to 55 categories.

shchung@donga.com