Suwon to Halt City-Organized Outdoor Events When High Concentration Fine Dust Emergency Reduction Measures Are Issued

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon has decided to halt city-organized outdoor events starting next month when 'high concentration fine dust emergency reduction measures' are issued.

The city held an 'Emergency Meeting of the Seasonal Management TF (Task Force)' on the 12th in the conference room of City Hall, chaired by Vice Mayor Jo Moo-young, and discussed measures to strengthen the implementation of the second phase fine dust seasonal management plan.

The 'Seasonal Management TF' is organized under the leadership of Vice Mayor Jo Moo-young and comprises six teams (38 departments): ▲Overall Coordination Team ▲Transportation Team ▲Industry Team ▲Power Generation Team ▲Daily Life Team ▲Protection Team.

The 'Fine Dust Seasonal Management Plan,' introduced last November, strengthens fine dust emission reduction policies for four months from December through March of the following year when the average fine dust concentration is high, and implements policies necessary for protecting citizen health.

Ahead of the 'Second Phase Fine Dust Seasonal Management Plan,' the city plans to enact fine dust ordinance enforcement rules that include ▲halting city-organized outdoor events on days of high concentration fine dust occurrence ▲banning fireworks events during the seasonal management period ▲prioritizing support for intensive fine dust management zones.

Notably, the city has set 24 promotion tasks, including the 'enactment of fine dust ordinance enforcement rules,' ahead of the second phase seasonal management plan. The task execution period runs from December through March of next year.

Additionally, the city plans to conclude a 'Voluntary Fine Dust Reduction Agreement' with approximately 10 special management construction sites within the city next month, which will stipulate bans on illegal incineration during winter.

Furthermore, the city will promote 'reduction of traffic congestion charges upon participation in private staggered work hours' targeting facilities subject to traffic congestion charges.

Emission Grade 5 vehicles are restricted from operating between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays. When high concentration fine dust emergency reduction measures are issued, 'temporary exemption targets' (vehicles with applied low-emission measures, vehicles with undeveloped or impossible-to-install reduction devices) are also prohibited from operating.

Eight locations have unmanned cameras installed for Grade 5 vehicle enforcement: Jiji Daegogae, Dangsudong entrance, Woncheon-dong entrance, Omokcheon underground road, Delta Plex entrance, Mangpo underground road, Muliran Bridge intersection, and Gwanggyo-ro three-way intersection.

The city plans to encourage the 3,889 Grade 5 vehicle owners within the city to understand the operation restriction system and apply for 'low-emission measures' to avoid disadvantages from vehicle operation, and will actively promote enforcement.

Vice Mayor Jo Moo-young stated, "Although this year's average ultrafine dust concentration has decreased compared to last year, high concentration fine dust can occur at any time," and added, "During the seasonal management period, we must strictly manage our own emission sources to reduce the frequency of fine dust occurrence and lower its concentration."

He continued, "Actively promote the operation restriction system and how to apply for low-emission measures so that Grade 5 vehicle owners do not suffer disadvantages such as administrative fines."