TURIN, Italy, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The city of Turin, led by the Five Star Movement mayor Chiara Appendino, has decided to restrict the movement of some diesel cars under certain circumstances, because of the high levels of air pollution in the northern Italian city.
From Thursday to Friday, cars with the standard of Euro 3 and Euro 4 are not allowed on the roads in the daytime. The ban also concerns petrol and gas vehicles.
The prohibition, which began on Monday and has been extended, was implemented after the level of pollution allowed by the law in the air was exceeded for seven consecutive days.
The ban will be triggered or lifted according to the level of pollution recorded in the air. It is part of a series of measures taken in the past weeks by the city council to try to reduce air pollution in Turin.
The repeated breaches of air pollution limits in the Turin area were cited by the European Commission in a warning sent on Feb. 15 to Italy and other countries.
The new provision has drawn criticism from opposition parties and associations of artisans and merchants, according to local media.
Critics say the measure is not achieving results and instead is harming business and trade, as it may cause inconveniences for owners who can not use their vehicles.
Appendino, the Turin mayor, defends her decision, arguing that public health is more important than anything else. A change of mentality is needed, in her opinion, according to a video she released to explain the measure to fellow citizens.
She reminded also the European warnings to Italy and other countries regarding pollution.
The new rules exacerbate regional laws already in force. According to the new provisions, all diesel cars will not be allowed on roads after the limit of 100 micrograms per cubic meter of particulates is exceeded for three consecutive days. In this case, also the central city area will be forbidden to all private vehicles.
If the level of 50 micrograms is exceeded for seven consecutive days, diesel cars up to Euro 4 standard are not allowed on the roads.
In recent months, many Italian cities and towns have adopted various measures against air pollution. According to the environmental organization Legambiente in the Piedmont region, air had been the worst in the last four years, because of the high levels of smog.
On Feb. 15, the European Commission sent final warnings to Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Britain for failing to address repeated breaches of air pollution limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), urging those member states to take action to ensure good air quality and safeguard public health.
"If Member States fail to act within two months, the Commission may decide to take the matter to the Court of Justice of the EU,"the EU executive said in a statement.
