Speaking to a host of journalists, Dr. Ebtekar pointed out that the plan would take 10-15 years to be implemented, adding that it would solve the air pollution problem systematically.

During the recent meeting of the government cabinet, the details of the action plan were approved and it was decided that the source providing the $2 billion budget to implement the plan be determined, she added.

Referring to the objectives pursued by the plan, Dr. Ebtekar said respecting the standards of the pollutants, changing the car fuel to gas, use of catalyzers in the new cars and withdrawal of the old cars, increasing the number of public transportation gas-consuming vehicles, improving the fuels'quality, technical inspection of vehicles and public training to avoid adding to the air pollution are among the aims the plan would follow.

The key to success is the coordination and close cooperation among the country's executive agencies and contribution on part of the public.

On the short-run approaches to diminish the pollution, she said the most important factor in this context is the intra-sectoral cooperation and in particular the role of the traffic police in implementing the decisions of the ad hoc coordinating committee in emergency circumstances in the capital.

Touching on the non-scientific methods set forth by some institutions to diminish the air pollution, Dr. Ebtekar said the DOE is trying to not only address the air pollution problem through expert studies but also to deal with other environmental issues. To this end, it would propose special plans to the government.