Ayatollah Khamenei received a group of environmental activists in the Natural Resources Week on Sunday where he urged that people give their verdict on any official’s performance on environment in all government bodies.
The gathering was made by officials from Environment Protection Department, Agricultural Jihad Ministry, Road and Urban Planning Ministry, Energy Ministry, Tehran Municipality and Tehran Governorate. A group of NGO and non-state activists were also scheduled to attend the meeting.
Leader believed that solving environmental challenges including air pollution, airborne particles, and overuse of forest and range resources would entail careful planning, close monitoring, and defining environmental care draft for all industrial and construction projects.
Ayatollah Khamenei demanded that this ‘very crucial task’ be attended by all government officials; “the issue of environment is not merely an issue of certain incumbent governments; nor is it the issue of specific partisan interests; rather, it is a national issue and all players should cooperate to solve these issues,” he added.
Leader of the Islamic Republic also pointing to air, water and soil as three elements of nature stated that “to handle issues such as air pollution in metropolitan cities, and soil erosion and airborne particles and water paucity, more than mere media propaganda and lip service should be in the focus; hard work and a strong will should go along together to tackle these challenges,” he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to forests and ranges as the ‘life jacket of the cities and an important factor to keep soil in place,’ lamenting the abuse of forest by vested interests especially in north of the country. “The responsible organizations should take strict measures against razing of the forests under any pretexts including construction industries under the guise of attraction of tourists and other seemingly plausible apologies such as building Seminary schools,” emphasized the Leader.
“The phenomenon of public land overtake especially constructions in mountains is unfortunate; the law should declare such acts as acts of crime and the perpetrators should be sued without any tolerance; any laxity in part of the government responsible bodies should also be addressed strictly,” Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized.
He held that the protection of the environment was the state’s duty; “drafting the National Environmental Initiative and a reassessment of the laws of the environmental crimes, and bolstering the current regulations were the major contributing measures against the law-breakers. The state TV and Radio broadcaster role in mobilizing the public to protect the environment is also a crucial factor,” he said.
Iran marks March 6 as National Day for Planting Trees and the week including the day is marked as Natural Resources Week in the country.
SH/HRGH
MNA
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