Pretoria — Environmental Affairs and Tourism Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi will launch 11 Air Quality Monitoring Stations in Durban tomorrow.

This in response to the high levels of industrial pollution in the South Durban Basin.

According to Ms Mabudafhasi, the plan called the Multi Point Plan (MPP) was conceptualised by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism in May 2000 and received Cabinet approval in November 2000.

She said her visit to Durban South would also acknowledge the major initiative taken by the MPP to provide an improved and integrated decision making framework for air pollution management at local level, moving towards the reduction of air pollution to achieve health based air quality standards.

"This will be achieved by various components of the plan such as undertaking health studies on health risk assessment and an epidemiological study, phasing out programmes on the use of dirty fuels and establishing an Air Quality Management System," said the deputy minister.

She said other components were strengthening the auditing and permitting system, development of local legal framework, reviewing of standards for priority pollutants and reviewing standards for vehicles emissions.

The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at Settlers School in Wentworth. -