Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

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The Government of Georgia adopts an action plan for improving atmospheric air quality of Rustavi

Various agencies of the Ministry of Envrionmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA) have undertaken a comprehensive inspection over each and every large enterprise in Rustavi, as well as air quality, that has resulted into an action plan for improving atmospheric air quality of the city. Key to the action plan goes beyond improving air quality of Rustavi and surrounding areas and aspires to ensure healthier environment.

An action plan for improving atmospheric air quality in Rustavi amidst industrial emissions regulations has set forth the following matters of utmost importance: significant increase in fines for exceeding emissions from enterprises; imposing requirements for constant and automatic monitoring of emissions at large enterprises; enabling the Environment and Climate Change Department with a right to suspend operation of an enterprise in case the latter exceeds emissions significantly; elaboration of a modern European legal framework for regulating emissions from an industrial sector; and undertaking a more intensive environmental oversight over large enterprises.

 The above-mentioned regulations will enter into force and span beyond 25 large enterprises of Rustavi and cover more than 100 enterprises nationwide. Upon enacting the new regulations, these enterprises will be imposed with a requirement to install modern filtering systems for sustaining particles and monitoring of substances within emissions.

 Total budget of the plan exceeds 62 million GEL. The plan goes beyond regulation of industrial emissions and aims at enhancing green infrastructure in the city, improving infrastructure for roads and public transport, expanding air quality monitoring and increasing awareness over environmental issues. 

 The MEPA-initiated atmospheric air quality improvement action plan has been drafted as a joint effort with the Parliament of Georgia, local self-government bodies, representatives of the civil society and European experts.