Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

Granelli: "The sequence of exceeding PM10 limits is alarming"
 

Milan, January 14 2020 - "We are in a smog emergency and the sequence of exceeding the limit levels of PM10 in the air is alarming - declares Marco Granelli, Councilor for Mobility -. This is why we have decided to bring forward the second level measures of the air protocol of the Lombardy Region until tomorrow, which are added to the measures already in force and especially in Area B. At this stage it is necessary to do even more". 

In fact, first level measures are already active in Milan: average Pm10 values ​​above the limits have been recorded for eight consecutive days. A trend that was already following a negative sequence, with thresholds being exceeded on seven of the previous eight days. Considering Arpa's forecasts, which for today are still favorable to the accumulation of pollutants, the Municipality has decided to bring forward by two days the second level measures envisaged by the "Regional Protocol on air quality" to combat the spread of fine particles, which normally they are triggered only on the tenth consecutive day of exceeding the daily PM10 limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter and are activated only on the Tuesday or Friday following the last Arpa detection.

With the ordinance of the Municipality from tomorrow, Wednesday 15 January, compared to what is currently in force in Milan (the first level of the regional Protocol and above all Area B), the stop of passenger transport vehicles up to Euro 4 diesel and goods transport is expected (commercial vehicles) up to Euro 3 diesel from 8.30 to 18.30 also on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays and freight transport (commercial vehicles) Euro 4 diesel from 8.30 to 12.30 from Monday to Sunday, holidays included. 

Furthermore, the ordinance provides for a ban on the use of domestic heat generators powered by woody biomass (in the presence of an alternative heating system) with energy and environmental performances that are not capable of respecting the values ​​envisaged at least for the 4-star class.  

“It is clear to everyone that extraordinary measures are not a solution to the problem of dust accumulation in the most critical periods of the year - continues the councilor -. Structural measures are needed. Since last year we have activated Area B, the large ZTL which progressively keeps the most polluting vehicles out of the city but it is important in critical phases to give a stronger signal. We ask the Region to address the smog emergency in a structural way, with effective measures with aid to citizens and businesses for changing the fleet of vehicles and greater resources for public transport, unfortunately in 2020 these resources were decreased. We are in a geographically complicated area and more needs to be done: Government, Region and European Union help us."

We remind you that Area B concerns approximately 72% of the entire municipal territory and 97% of the resident population, a large area with low polluting emissions due to the gradual and progressive ban on entry of older vehicles responsible for the most polluting emissions , in particular PM10 and No2 (nitrogen dioxide), to improve air quality in the city. By 2030 Milan will be diesel car free. Area B is active from Monday to Friday, from 7am to 30pm, excluding holidays.

Since last January 7, 20 new cameras have come into operation, in the pre-operation phase, along the borders of Area B and within the year all the access detection devices in the 187 gates that make up the perimeter of the limited traffic zone will come into operation launched last February 25 to ban entry to the most polluting vehicles up to Euro 4 diesel. 

The cameras present are located in via Anassagora, Pirelli, viale Sarca, via Giuditta Pasta, Gallarate, Tofano, Basel, Zurich, Gonin, Baroni, Cassinis, Rogoredo, Carlo Feltrinelli, Mecenate, Fantoli, Corelli, Camillo and Otto Cima, Rubattino, Fallen from Marcinelle, Monneret de Villard, Carnia, Palmanova  and Palmanova at the railway bridge height, Cambini, Clitumno. The group of ten cameras activated yesterday, 13 January. it is located in via Assietta, Gabbro, Bovisasca, Oriani, Certosa 1 and Certosa2, Bressanone, Gallarate, Capodistria, Montefeltro. The next group will be activated on January 20th at the gates of via Columella, Sesto San Giovanni, Fulvio Testi, Comboni, Senigallia 1 and 2, Vincenzo da Seregno 1 and 2, Litta Modignani, Apennini. The pre-exercise lasts 30 days so progressively from 6 February there will be 25 Area B cameras in full operation, from 12 February 2020 there will be 35 and from 20 January 45.

2nd level ordinance