Politicians promise cleaner air to Budapest residents

Mayor Gábor Demszky and Environment Minister Gábor Fodor promised better air quality to residents of Budapest at a joint press briefing on Thursday.

Fodor said the establishment of a green zone and the partial exclusion of the most polluting cars are among future plans. Fodor said heavy truck traffic in downtown Budapest was tightened as of January 1, and there will be restrictions on their movement everywhere in the city by the end of the year. Fodor observed that heavy trucks can be ordered out of the city centre with the construction of the M0 ring road and the dedication of the Megyeri bridge north of Budapest due in August.

Speaking to reporters outside the air pollution gauge on downtown Erzsébet tér, Fodor said his ministry supports the city's plans for reducing air pollution. The ministry is already working on a draft designed to define the acceptable level of airborne dust, and will produce legislation this year, he said.

Some 34% of Budapest's air pollution is caused by trucks. The more than 120,000 trucks heavier than 3.5 tons that drive into Budapest every day are mainly responsible for toxic emissions.

Demszky said a new environmental policy approved last year lays heavy emphasis on preventing smog.

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