DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's environmental authorities on Wednesday urged the East African nation to improve public transportation and discourage the use of private cars in a bid to reduce air pollution.
Samuel Gwamaka, director general of the National Environment Management Council (NEMC), said in order to reduce the use of private cars, it was important to build roads that will provide walkways for pedestrians and cyclists as it was being done in developed countries.
Gwamaka said city planners should put in place strategies to ensure that the roads become friendly for both pedestrians and cyclists.
Gwamaka told an international conference discussing land transportation and air pollution that has attracted 11 African countries in the port city of Dar es Salaam where cars, especially old ones, have become a major source of air pollution.
He said many of the imported cars have been used for a long time, adding that they have now turned into heavy polluters.
"We are here to share experiences about what each one of us is doing to reduce air pollution in our cities because air pollution affects the health of people," Gwamaka added.
