On January 18, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere in the Vitebsk region decreased by 1.5% in 2011 compared to the previous year, amounting to 93.2 thousand tons, the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection informed BELTA correspondent. The committee attributes this result to the implementation of measures to reduce emissions at 83 facilities in the region. Thus, last year, 9 gas cleaning units with a capacity of 28 thousand cubic meters per hour were commissioned at emission sources. 17 gas cleaning units were reconstructed. By increasing the volume of biofuel combustion in boiler houses, it was possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%. Also, as a result of the work carried out in the region, the number of vehicles with exhaust gases not meeting GOST standards decreased from 5% in 2010 to 3% last year. At the same time, users of natural resources in certain districts of the region do not comply with the requirements of air protection legislation regarding the development of permissible emission standards. There are also claims against utility companies. In particular, the quality of emissions from the boiler equipment of a number of housing and communal services enterprises does not meet environmental standards, specialists noted, emphasizing that these issues require close attention from officials. -0-

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