After failing to get its Smokeless UB program approved in
the Spring session of Parliament, the Government has now made some changes in
it, following suggestions from a working group established for the purpose. The
program is now called New Construction, to emphasize that its goal is to boost
various types of construction in all parts of Mongolia — infrastructure, city
development, energy, engineering and roads. More apartments will be built and
jobs created, giving a fillip to the economy, and creating clean and safe
living conditions.

The program also aims to regulate people’s migration to
urban centers, particularly the capital city, develop regional centers, and
improve administration of smaller cities. The larger goal is to reduce the
difference between cities and rural areas. In this the program now has a wider
scope than the earlier one which focused on reducing the air pollution in
Ulaanbaatar.

It now has eight parts and will proceed in two stages.
The first phase, from 2010 to 2012, will see construction of schools,
hospitals, kindergartens, professional training and industrial centers, sports
complexes and trading centers. Migration to Ulaanbaatar will be controlled when
the regions have access to better education and health services, and more
employment opportunities. Care would be taken to ensure that this development
does not lead to further pollution. Use of coal will be reduced and modern
technology will be introduced to tackle air pollution, the level of which
should be brought down by no less than 60 percent by 2013.