By Farid Behbud, Abdul Haleem
Air pollution in Afghan big cities particularly the capital city Kabul has reached alarming point as head of National Environment Directorate, Mustafa warned last Sunday of dire consequences if air pollution is not checked.
"Living condition would become impossible within the next seven years if the status quo of air pollution continues in Kabul and other major towns," Zahir said at a seminar, adding many people would migrate from capital city to other places due to heavy pollution.
Xinhua, Apr. 21, 2011: Battered streets, roaming old and used cars, lack of adequate sewerage and poor sanitation have largely contributed to the pollution in Kabul and sister cities in the war-wrecked Afghanistan. (Photo: Akmal Dawi/IRIN)
Battered streets, roaming old and used cars, lack of adequate sewerage and poor sanitation have largely contributed to the pollution in Kabul and sister cities in the war-wrecked Afghanistan.
Often thick ply of dust consisting of carbon dioxide, sulfur and other hazardous chemical elements are seen covering Kabul sky instead of cloud.
"I will be delighted to see blue sky and light clouds over Kabul city like past years when Afghanistan was peaceful and green, blossoming gardens and fragrant landscape," a resident of Afghan capital Kabul, 55-year Bashir said.
Bashir who like many Afghans goes only by one name said his country is not an industrialized nation to have so many plants and factories to pollute the environment.
Meantime, he was of the view that mismanagement of authorities and poor awareness of citizens are the main cause of pollution in Kabul and other cities at large.
He said that in some cases the public bath owners burn tires and other chemical items to heat water, while others have constructed plants and brick kilns on the outskirts of the city which eventually damage the environment.