The atmosphere in Kandy has become very polluted due to heavy traffic, said the Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera.
Therefore, the Central Environmental Authority has been instructed to purchase new equipment to measure the carbon content of the atmosphere in urban areas as well as the sound of vehicles’ horns, he said.
He was speaking at the 14th session of the new National Environment Council of the Ministry of Environment.
The Minister also said,
During peak hours the speed of a vehicle in the city of Colombo can be as low as 06 kilometers per hour.
Apart from Colombo, there is heavy traffic during the day in densely populated urban areas including Galle, Kurunegala and Kandy.
At present, the government has suspended the import of vehicles. If more vehicles are imported in any way, the vehicles may have to be parked in one place for hours.
Most carbon emissions from vehicles are not from speed drivings but from parking.