EPA plans to check car emissions rate, decide if clean chit is given
Technical inspection centers underway
KUWAIT CITY, Oct 27: Director General of the Environment Public Authority (EPA) Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahmad revealed that the bidding envelopes for the management and operation of the technical inspection centers under the Ministry of Interior will be opened soon, reports Al-Anba daily.
In a press statement on the sidelines of the inauguration of the first sustainable environmental school in the country – Al-Jazaer High School in Shamiya, Sheikh Al-Ahmad revealed these centers will measure the rate of car emissions before renewing the vehicle registration book. He affirmed the authority is currently completing procedures related to the bidding in coordination with the ministry.
He explained that EPA will examine the vehicles and their emission rates, issue a statement on the condition of each vehicle, and then attach the statement to the vehicle’s technical inspection file to ensure the rate of emission is within the accepted standards, which will determine whether the registration book will be renewed or not.
He said the inspection data will be circulated to the measurement implementers in EPA and the technical inspection companies. He added these companies will ensure the validity of vehicle exhaust, as an agreement has been reached with the ministry that no vehicle registration book will be renewed unless the standards are met.
Inauguration
On the inauguration of the first sustainable environmental school in the country, Sheikh Al-Ahmad affirmed this was made possible through the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Education and the ‘We Protect It’ initiative. He said the initiative is keen on achieving sustainability through schools, ensuring food security and supporting agriculture. He called for the creation of sustainable environmental schools in all academic levels as one way of addressing environmental issues like water scarcity and climate change.
On the other hand, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Activities in the Ministry of Education Faisal AlMaqsed praised the efforts of EPA, led by its director general, in supporting the bid to make schools environment friendly. He revealed there is an ambitious plan to make Kuwait an environmental incubator in all its facilities until 2035.
President of Kuwait Water Society Dr Saleh Al-Muzaini announced that Al-Jazaer High School has been nominated for the ‘Green Flag’ Award – the first of its kind in Kuwait, in cooperation with the concerned international organization.
Vice President of Kuwait Water Society Mona Al-Raz reviewed the objectives of the Environmental Education Foundation; pointing out it is the largest environmental education organization in the world and it is active in more than 100 countries. She added Kuwait obtained membership in June 2021, stressing that Kuwait Water Society’s programs are aimed at creating a more sustainable world.
Director of the school Dina Al-Atiqi asserted this is the first school in the country with a sustainable program, confirming it will serve as the center for the implementation of the schools program and 2035 development plan.
Representative of the ‘We Protect It’ initiative Suad AlJarallah affirmed the Ministry of Education has been supporting the initiative since 2013, as it is keen on founding environment friendly schools to achieve the development goals.
Al-Jarallah stated that including sustainable environment in the curricula is a vital move to support students and develop the research aspect; explaining that work is done through student teams that manage food security, energy, water and electricity.