Migration to capital city of Mongolia from rural areas to stop until 2018

ULAANBAATAR (GoGo Mongolia/ANN) - On Jan 9, City Mayor and City Governor S.Batbold has issued an order to stop migration to Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia from rurals until Jan 1, 2018, aiming to reduce air pollution. 

Almost 80 per cent of Ulaanbaatar air pollution is produced by residential district households, where people live with no access to the central heating system and rely on coal-burning stoves to survive temperatures that fall below minus 35 degrees Celsius. Most of those people living in districts are migrants from the countryside to city, seeking for better lifestyle, education and job. 

According to the order, people in need of long-term treatment in Ulaanbaatar city and people who purchased housing in Ulaanbaatar city are allowed migrate to the city. 

In other cases, migration of people from rural to Ulaanbaatar city is banned. 

Inspectors of City professional inspection agency and Air quality agency will monitor the implementation. 

Every citizen of Mongolia has the right to migrate. However, the residents of Ulaanbaatar city is suffering from hazardous levels of air pollution that might affect national security. Thus, City Mayor has issued this order based on long-term study and professional recommendation. 

Moreover, City Mayor has issued two more orders to tackle air pollution. 

For instance, the city will determine the residential areas. Setting up new residential district areas at outer parts of the chosen residential areas is prohibited. 

Moreover, city mayor divided air pollution of Ulaanbaatar city into four zones, considering the current air quality index. 

Further, city is planning to ban the most polluting vehicles. 

As of today, air pollution reaches hazardous levels in three areas of the Ulaanbaatar city where levels of PM2.5 particulates in heavily polluted areas reaching  600-1500 micrograms per cubic meter. 

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