Over 3,000 pit latrines being renovated

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism made a press briefing to give its updates on May 31.

This year, the Department of Environmental Policy and Regulation of the ministry cleaned 46,411 hectares of land and cleared 10,970 tons of garbage. Moreover, 66,300 carcasses of animals that died due to natural disasters or improperly at the national level were disinfected and buried. A total of 1,100 non-standard pit latrines in tourist areas and specially protected areas were also removed and disinfected.

The National Committee for Environmental Pollution Reduction has started the renovation of 3,050 pit latrines in Ulaanbaatar. Specifically, 200 sanitary facilities are being renovated in Bayanzurkh District khoroo, 400 in No. 7, 17, 18, and 19 khoroos of Chingeltei District, 400 in No. 15, 16, 17 and 20 khoroos of Sukhbaatar District, and 1,000 sanitary facilities in Bayan-Undur soum of Orkhon Province. Currently, the work is 70 percent complete.

On top of that, 296 automobile repair, 121 tire repair, 15 oil lubrication, 152 car wash, 59 spare parts trade, and other enterprises that are sources of soil pollution in the capital city were inspected and recommendations were made to submit soil analysis every six months.

The ministry also directed the companies operating in the capital city to make toilets free of charge for the public.

In addition, this year, the ministry has started to rehabilitate 2,000 hectares of land. For example, the Erdenet Mining Corporation has started the rehabilitation work in Yeruu soum of Selenge Province. So far, 429 hectares have been rehabilitated. In 2023, the corporation will carry out technical rehabilitation on an area of 1,230 hectares.

Oyu Tolgoi will rehabilitate an area of 334.7 hectares in Selenge Province, as well. According to the relevant officials of the ministry, complaints related to the Petrochina Dachin Tamsag Company were received from civil society organizations, and the following violations were found during the investigation. For example, environmental protection management plans were not approved, wells were drilled in two places without permission, and buildings were destroyed, the ministry informed.