DUSHANBE, December 8, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Compared to the previous years, the environmental situation in Tajikistan has much improved because the majority of large industrial enterprises in the country are now not in operation or operate at less than 50 percent of their capacity, Professor Kholnazar Muhabbatov, an expert on environmental protection issues, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

“The majority of large industrial enterprises in the country are now not in operation; there is the aluminum smelter, but it now operates at not full capacity,” said Dr Muhabbatov.  “In the meantime, the number of vehicles has doubled in Tajikistan in recent years.  Transport now accounts for 83 percent of the overall emissions to the atmosphere in the country.”

On the climate change problems, the expert noted that as a result of global changing, glacier area in Tajikistan has been reduced by 33 percent to this day.  According to him, the retreat of glaciers affects the availability of fresh water for irrigation and domestic use, animals and plants that depend on glacier-melt.  Changing climatic conditions and warming temperatures are also increasing the risk of natural disasters.