TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani declared that his cabinet on Wednesday decided to take “urgent and short term” decisions to reduce air pollution in big cities.

Rouhani said the decisions will be announced to all related bodies for implementation.

It is essential to ease the concerns regarding the air pollution in the metropolises, he told his cabinet members.

The air pollution cannot be cut in a short period of time, however, the government is obliged to take “short term” decisions in a way that the people feel the issue is getting better, he noted.

Rouhani cited several steps that should be taken to remedy the current situation. For example, he said, the duration for technical inspection of the vehicles should be reduced to three years; construction of tall buildings which obstruct the movement of air should be stopped; and consumption of energy should also be optimized.

The president added the government also decided to increase the number of buses and the subway trains to improve the public transportation system.

Rouhani said motorcycles produce a lot of air pollution and on days that that the air is polluted their trafficking should be limited and steps be taken to improve their fuel efficiency.

The president also said that schools and organizations will be closed if necessary in polluted days.

NA/PA