VIDEO: Air quality monitoring station opens in eSikhaleni
GALLERY: City Mayor Cllr Mdu Mhlongo gave this assurance and said the provision of air monitoring stations will be rolled out to all the city’s suburbs.
HAVING led the way among local government entities through the provision of three ambient air quality monitoring stations, the City of uMhlathuze must provide adequate maintenance budgets to ensure the long-term viability of the project.
This was the caution of national Department of Environmental Affairs guest Thabo Setshedi at Thursday’s launch of the eSikhaleni monitoring station.
‘Three weeks ago, an audit of the country’s 110 stations revealed that fewer than 40 were operational.
‘So, while you are commended for fulfilling your obligations under the Air Quality Act, please ensure this process gets the necessary funding to sustain it.’
City Mayor Cllr Mdu Mhlongo gave this assurance and said the provision of air monitoring stations will be rolled out to all the city’s suburbs.
‘We have to take responsibility on environmental issues such as clean air.
‘As one of the most highly industrialised cities we are home to smelters, mills, factories and industries, plus we have vehicle pollution, fires and waste dumping – all of which impacts on our citizens,’ said Mhlongo.
‘Industry is the greatest source of sulphur dioxide emissions, which seriously irritates eyes and respiratory tracts, especially for asthmatics.
‘It is our duty to make them do business in a cleaner way. We look for balance and sustainable development.’
Mhlongo said data received at the monitoring stations would be shared with Unizulu and FET colleges for use in research and capacity building.
He added that there was a great need for the city to diversify its industry-based economy.
‘With commodity prices and demand tumbling, and production being cut at a number of plants, we need to change the landscape of the city and look to other sources of jobs and products.’
Messages of support for the city’s air quality programme came from a number of instances, including the uThungulu District Municipality, Richards Bay Clean Air Association (RBCAA), industry and national and provincial government.
