Mine Affairs Directorate reveals new policy to tackle pollution

Security

23-04-2022, 23:57

INA - BAGHDAD

General Directorate of Mine Affairs in the Ministry of Environment revealed on Saturday, a new policy to treat pollution within 4 years, while counting the area of cleared areas.

"The process of removing pollution from mines is currently concentrated in the liberated areas and some southern areas, in addition to the work of raising the national effort in the oil areas in the south of the country," said the Director General of Mine Affairs, Dhafir Mahmoud Khalaf Al-Saadi to the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

He added, "The percentage of completion of pollution removal works ranges between 50-75%, with ongoing removal operations," noting that "383 square kilometers of the polluted area have been cleared,

"The process of removing pollution in Anbar Governorate exceeded 60%, for the areas registered, which amounted earlier to 600 square kilometers, and in Basra, very high rates were achieved," he stressed.

He pointed out that "Within the next few days, some non-residential areas will be re-surveyed with Iraqi staff and with the support of some international organizations. Unfortunately, international support in removing pollution does not reach the level of ambition due to the large polluted areas,".

"The directorate proposed a new policy for demining over an area of 677 km, including multiple areas, within less than 4 years, at a cost of 500 billion dinars, and if approved, it will become a fundamental point in removing pollution from Iraqi lands," he included.