‘Districts have enough salt and substances to melt snow’

City officials informed on Monday about the measures being taken due to this week’s heavy snowfall in Ulaanbaatar and how it is preventing smoke inhalation.

General Manager of Ulaanbaatar D.Ganbold said, “It started snowing in Ulaanbaatar at 4:30 a.m. last Sunday. Workers started cleaning at 6:00 a.m. and 1,099 people worked with 103 special machines and equipment and sprayed 344 tons of salt and 111 tons of substances on roads [to prevent slipperiness]. As for districts, they are working with the emergency headquarters for the prevention of smoke inhalation.”

Head of the Bagakhangai District Governor’s Office L.Sanjiijamts said, “Road has become slippery due to heavy snowfall. Officials are working to ensure the safety of citizens. As of last Sunday, 28 officers worked to ensure the safety of 253 citizens, businesses and vehicles. A total of 300 kilograms of salt and 1.5 tons of substances were sprinkled.

Governor of Baganuur District S.Davaasuren said, “The situation was difficult due to the snowfall. We sprayed 10 tons of substances. About 120 people who traveled by three big buses on the UlaanbaatarKhentii, KhentiiUlaanbaatar and SukhbaatarUlaanbaatar routes were temporarily placed in Baganuur District. It is likely to snow again this weekend. Winter preparation of Baganuur is 93.8 percent completed.”

Governor of Nalaikh District Ch.Radnaabazar said, “Households of our district have started burning coal briquettes this year. A survey showed that 7,691 citizens and 235 enterprises need a total of 41,000 tons of briquettes. More than 1,400 employees of 59 organizations are monitoring and providing information on the use of briquettes to citizens. There are 31 sales outlets for briquettes here.”

In Songinokhairkhan District, the preparations for winter are 93.2 percent complete. Due to the heavy snowfall, 10 tons of substances and 24 tons of salt were sprinkled on roads, normalizing traffic on the highway.

There are 115 coal briquette sales outlets in Bayanzurkh District. District Governor N.Bayarmunkh said that the district is working to establish 45 more sales points in November and that it is necessary to establish sale points in remote areas rather than along the main road.

Sukhbaatar District has reserves of 356 tons of salt and 176 tons of substances. Private enterprises are carrying out landscaping and service works in Chingeltei District. They reported that they have sufficient reserves of salt and substances to eliminate and prevent slipperiness.

Governor of Bayangol District U.Sumiyabaatar said, “About 8,900 households in ger district are buying coal briquettes from 29 sales outlets. It was calculated that one point provides for 300 households. After the snowfall last weekend, three brigades and 93 people worked and sprinkled 40 tons of salt and about 10 tons of substances.”

Deputy Governor of KhanUul District B.Tseren said, “We have completed about 95 percent of our winter preparations. There are 42 outlets for coal briquettes. Due to the snowfall, four organizations worked across the district and sprinkled 65.5 tons of salt.”

The relevant official gave information about winter preparations, the quality of coal briquettes and their transportation.

Head of the Ulaanbaatar Air Pollution Control Divison Ts.Ganbold said, “Ulaanbaatar is responsible for reducing air pollution in four areas. This includes stockpiling, transportation, sales and inspection of briquettes. At present, 2,000 tons of coal briquettes are produced per day by seven lines of the western factory and four lines of the eastern factory. The city has 116,000 tons of briquettes in reserves. More than 300 vehicles of 31 companies are transporting coal briquettes. This year, 670 sales outlets were planned to be opened but currently, 520 points are working. In the future, 150 points will be opened in stages.”