Air Pollution in Teheran (Photos from Mehr News Agency)

Emergency meeting held on Tehran's air pollution

Source: Mehr News Agency, Tehran The invisible Milad Tower An emergency committee meeting was held on Sunday to discuss the choking air pollution in the metropolis of Tehran. Tehran's air pollution has reached an alarming level and according to the World Bank statistics, it has incurred around $3.3 billion in financial losses in the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2010). In the meeting it was announced that the air pollution in Tehran will reach a critical level on Tuesday and Wednesday. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the meeting, Tehran Governor Morteza Tamaddon said, "Nothing was approved regarding (declaring) holidays since we believe holidays will not solve any problem." The government declared public holiday in Tehran on November 24 due to heavy air pollution. Tamaddon added that 30 ratifications were approved in the meeting which will be discussed in the emergency cabinet session and the results will be announced soon. He appealed to the citizens to avoid unnecessary commutes and encouraged them to use public transportation. Health Minister Marzieh Vahid-Dastjerdi also announced on Sunday that there has been a 30% increase in the number of respiratory illness cases during the past few days. She also advised old men, children, and persons with respiratory and heart problems to stay indoors. Photos- Tehran suffering from pollution spell