Environment Ministry to earmark four billion crowns to improve air quality in Moravia-Silesia

The Environment Ministry will earmark four billion crowns from the EU subsidies for the improvement of air quality in the Moravian-Silesian region, the Environment Minister Pavel Drobil said in Ostrava on Thursday. Mr Drobil also said he and the Ostrava officials would like to negotiate with major local polluters, namely local steel works and others. The city of Ostrava has also proposed possible solutions - measures, which would cost some 28 billion crowns which would tackle all three sources of pollution: large companies, transport and heating facilities. One of the largest polluters in the region, ArcelorMittal Ostrava steel works, has already cooperated with the Environment Ministry representatives, its CEO said, stressing that this year the company has taken steps to lowering emissions. The industrial and coal-mining area around Ostrava and Karviná is one of the most polluted areas not only in the Czech Republic but also in Central Europe.

Author: Jan Velinger