Environment minister calls for coordinated effort against air-pollution

Environment Minister Jan Dusík says that a coordinated effort is needed to improve the quality of the air in the heavily industrialized city of Ostrava and its surroundings. The minister, who visited the region in February, has drafted a long-term strategy for improvement based on cooperation between the ministries of environment, transport, industry and local development. The government is to debate the proposal on Monday.

People living in Ostrava and nearby towns and villages are frequently exposed to a high concentration of harmful substances in the air far exceeding permitted levels. Studies show that the inhabitants of this region are more prone to asthma and allergies than the rest of the population.