By Xinhua
Lhasa (Tibet) : Tibet’s regional administration Thursday said it would begin monitoring vehicle emissions in the capital soon in the wake of the growing number of cars.
The plan is part of China’s first national survey of sources of pollution in the region, environment chief Zhang Yongze said.
The number of private cars in Lhasa is growing by about 50 a day, according to the city’s vehicle administration. It said Lhasa, with a population of 400,000, had 70,000 motor vehicles, including 58,100 private cars.
Rising number of cars have led the city planners to build the plateau’s first underground car park. Also, starting this year, a vehicle tax has been introduced in Lhasa.
The fast-growing car fleet, along with local economic and population growth, is threatening the plateau’s environment, though there is still no immediate sign of a pollution problem, said Zhang.