AKIPRESS.COM - Prime Minister J.Erdenebat on December 23 held a briefing on air pollution reduction efforts, and said that a number of projects to reduce air pollution have been carried out, but better outcomes have not been seen so far, reports The UB Post.

He pointed out that developing an electric heating system is of a great importance for reduction of Ulaanbaatar’s air pollution and that a decision has been made to provide ger district residents with free electricity at night.

The Prime Minister noted that the Government of Mongolia is working to execute the following actions to reduce Ulaanbaatar’s air pollution:

- Promote construction projects to minimize ger district occupancy and spend aid provided by the Chinese government on ger district re-planning and household relocation as discussed during Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Keqiang’s visit to Mongolia in July.

- Promote an electric heating system in Mongolia and provide residents with cheap electric heaters produced in Mongolia.

- Help support herders who have lost their livestock to dzud conditions and other natural disasters to address rural-to-urban migration resulting in increased air pollution in Ulaanbaatar.

- Promote people’s effective initiatives to reduce air pollution.

Prime Minister J.Erdenebat said that a budget of four billion MNT has been set for projects and programs to be implemented in 2017 to reduce Ulaanbaatar’s air pollution.

Eighty percent of the budget will be spent on providing free electricity to ger distrcit households at night and addressing electricity deficits.