High Concentration of Fine Dust from January to March ... Ongoing Illegal Burning and Fugitive Dust

Operation of Private Monitoring Team for Illegal Fine Dust Emissions in Gyeongnam Province

Gyeongnam Province operates a private monitoring team for illegal fine dust emissions.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] From January to March, the occurrence of high concentrations of fine dust increases. This period urgently requires monitoring of illegal activities by fine dust emission sources.

One of the causes of fine dust is fugitive dust. It is dust directly emitted into the atmosphere from construction sites and is mainly discharged from cement factories or briquette factories.

Illegal burning sites are also occasionally observed regardless of location, such as residential areas and apartments. The smell of burning garbage is causing nearby residents to frown.

A resident A of Changwon H Apartment expressed discomfort, saying, "Illegal burning atrocities occur during late-night hours when people's footsteps decrease," and "The smell is so bad that we cannot open the veranda windows."

Accordingly, Gyeongnam Province operates a private monitoring group for illegal fine dust emissions this year as well as last year.

The private monitoring group cracks down on businesses emitting air pollutants and construction sites generating fugitive dust, and prevents and controls illegal burning activities.

This year, 47 people were hired in 7 cities and counties including Changwon and Gimhae, and the group will operate intensively during the high fine dust concentration period from January to March.

According to the Gyeongnam Province Climate and Air Quality Division, after inspecting 1,835 sites for air, odor, and fugitive dust, one case of fugitive dust was reported in Saengnim-myeon, Gimhae City.

Also, after inspecting 221 sites for illegal burning, one case of illegal burning was detected in Hwamok-dong, Gimhae City, resulting in an administrative fine of 500,000 won.

Jung Byunghee, head of the Climate and Air Quality Division of the province, said, “We will continue to strengthen the constant monitoring system for fine dust emission sources using the private monitoring group and focus on monitoring illegal activities.”