'Environment protection'
Erbil environment directorate calls for public help to spot and report smoky vehicles
ERBIL – The Erbil Environment Directorate is urging residents and drivers to help identify vehicles emitting excessive smoke by photographing them and sending the images to local authorities for further action.
Dilshad Hirani, the head of the Erbil Environment Directorate, emphasized the importance of including the vehicle’s license plate number in the photos to aid in the identification and penalization of offenders.
“This initiative aims to protect the environment and assist the Erbil Traffic Directorate in enforcing regulations,” Hirani told 964media.
He added that vehicles flagged by the Directorate as violators would be reported to traffic authorities, who are tasked with issuing fines.
Penalties for such environmental violations begin at 150,000 Iraqi Dinar ($114) and can escalate to as much as 2 million IQD ($1,526), depending on the severity of the violation.
Erbil, recently ranked as the second most polluted city in Iraq behind Baghdad, faces severe pollution challenges stemming from vehicle emissions, industrial discharges, and waste management issues.
In response, the local government has launched several environmental initiatives. Recent measures include a crackdown on illegal refineries, with 15 facilities shut down this Monday alone. “We will target all refineries that jeopardize the health of our citizens and the environment,” stated a recent post on the governorate’s Facebook page. Earlier attempts also included a crackdown on tire burning for scrap metal, which is now classified as an environmental crime under regional law.
Erbil to take measures against environmental pollution
