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The city government and NCKU collaborate to establish Tainan City's third air quality maintenance zone.
The Tainan City Government has progressively designated the areas of "Chimei Museum and Tainan Metropolitan Park" and "Anping Commercial Port" as the first and second phases of the air quality maintenance zone in the city for the years 2022 and 2023, respectively. On the 26th, it formally announced the designation of the area around "NCKU and its affiliated hospital" as the third phase of the air quality maintenance zone. Currently, it is in the advocacy phase, and it is expected to be officially regulated starting from November 1, 2024. Diesel vehicles and motorcycle owners who fail to comply with the regulations may risk receiving fines.
The third-phase air quality maintenance zone covers an extensive area of 860,000 square meters, including the campuses of six major universities: Kuang-Fu, Cheng-Kung, Tzu-Chiang, Li-Hsing, Cheng-Hsing, and Ching-Yeh, along with the affiliated hospital area and surrounding roads such as Dongfeng Road, Qianfeng Road, sections 2 and 3 of Linsen Road, and University Road. After the regulations take effect, diesel buses, trucks, and vans that are more than 3 years old must have a valid emission inspection record within the past year to enter the regulated area. Similarly, gasoline-powered motorcycles older than 5 years must have completed the most recent inspection to enter the area. Violators may face fines ranging from 500 to 60,000 NT dollars under the Air Pollution Control Act. The aim is to protect the respiratory health of tens of thousands of students, faculty, healthcare workers, and patients through practical regulatory measures.
During her speech, Tainan City's Deputy Mayor Chao Ching-hui thanked the support and cooperation of NCKU and its staff and students, making the implementation of the air quality maintenance zone a success and serving as an exemplary model of cooperation between the two parties. NCKU is one of the most renowned universities in Taiwan. With the establishment of this air quality maintenance zone, it will become the largest and most high-profile campus zone in Taiwan subject to air quality regulations. It is also the first air quality maintenance zone to be jointly established by a university and a hospital in Taiwan. It is expected to become a national benchmark and lead more universities and hospital areas across the country in efforts to improve air quality.
Vice President of NCKU, Ching-Chang Lee, expressed strong support for the Environmental Protection Bureau's promotion of the air quality maintenance zone on the university campus, emphasizing the importance of integrating the concept of zero carbon emissions into campus life in the era of green energy.
Tainan City's Environmental Protection Bureau Director, Jen-Tse Hsu , stated that from today until November 1, 2024, will be a period of advocacy. Information boards will be set up near the air quality maintenance zone to inform the public. Furthermore, a license plate recognition system will be activated to notify vehicle owners who do not comply with the regulations to undergo emission testing, thereby avoiding fines due to ignorance of the regulations.
The Environmental Protection Bureau emphasizes that as long as diesel buses, trucks, vans, and gasoline-powered motorcycles are self-managed and pass the required inspections, they can freely enter and exit the air quality maintenance zone. In addition to scenic areas, port areas, schools, and hospital zones, the Environmental Protection Bureau will continue to promote the establishment of air quality maintenance zones in areas with high traffic volumes such as industrial areas, logistics centers, and transfer stations. Through diverse regulations in different areas, the city aims to gradually improve air quality and create a more environmentally friendly living environment.
Starting from November 1, 2024, the third phase of air quality maintenance zone in Tainan City will be officially regulated.
