Bahrain gearing up to ensure air quality

Manama : Bahrain is gearing up for preparing a national strategy to reduce emissions and ensure air quality in the country. The decision follows a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on air quality in some towns in the Kingdom. The WHO has ranked Bahrain negative in the report, which focused on only one indicator - concentration of fine particles.

The report was broached during the weekly Cabinet session, chaired by Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, at Gudaibiya Palace yesterday. 

The session decided to develop a national strategy for air quality, and requested the Supreme Council for the Environment (SCE) to prepare it in coordination with the relevant government departments. 

It also endorsed a national strategy under which the relevant sides in the energy, transportation and industry will be committed to reduce their emissions. 

The WHO report was mentioned in a memorandum presented by the Cabinet Affairs Minister, Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Mutawa. The Cabinet tasked the SCE to update the Kingdom’s information and data, in cooperation with the WHO. The SCE was also requested to cooperate with the relevant government departments and institutions to put forward a long-term environment strategy.

Meanwhile, the session praised the progress achieved by the Kingdom in the field of environment as shown in the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), released biennially by the Yale and Columbia universities in collaboration with the World Economic Forum. 

According to EPI, Bahrain ranked first in the GCC and sixth in the Middle East.

HRH Premier then tasked the National Informatics Committee, chaired by the Cabinet Affairs Minister, to devise a mechanism to review international reports related to Bahrain and to verify the validity and accuracy of the information. 

Commenting on development projects, Prince Khalifa ordered to follow up the service needs of the Um al-Hassam region, especially regarding infrastructure, traffic and health.

According to a statement by Cabinet Secretary-General Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al Nasser, the Premier also directed to implement the development projects approved by the government in the fields of roads and avenues, particularly those suffering from traffic snarls.

The session was also informed about the implementation progress of the Al Fateh Highway Revamp Project through the presentation given by the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning. 

The session also discussed five proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives and decided to reply to them as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. 

They were related to opening a vehicle inspection office in Muharraq, a port and coast for fishermen in Hamala, the course of sewage water in Tubli Bay, the building of a fly-over on the Al-Fateh Highway and the salaries of newly recruited doctors.