A problem of the capital “city”: Contamination of Land

By Erdenetuya Urtnast
Main causes of contamination of land in Ulaanbaatar are population growth caused by rural-urban migration, the expansion of ger-settlements, improper behavior and habit of people (for example, blowing the nose, spitting out saliva, dumping rubbish, excreting in public places and streets), the increasing use of plastics and chemicals.
There most of rural-urban migrants settle besides native settlers. Total squares of ger-settlements are 3 times larger than other areas. There is no green area in ger-districts and land devastation is higher than other areas. Due to simple or outside latrines, cesspits and rubbish dumps the chemical pollution of the ground is 2.5-8 times higher than other areas and bacterial contamination is 10 times higher than flat areas. It was estimated that there are more than 150 thousand latrines and the same number of sewage water pits in Ulaanbaatar.

A survey report conducted among low income and poor families of ger areas of Songinokhairkhan and Khan-Uul districts of Ulaanbaatar says: “Environmental hygiene is worse. Due to insufficient service to remove refuse, carelessness and laziness of the residents nearest ravines, holes and streets have heavily been dumped and polluted by refuse. Some of inhabitants pour sewage water, excrete and dump cinder around or outside of their wooden fence (khashaa).
Many households haven’t got sewage water pits in their khashaas. Sanitation and cleaning of latrines and sewage water holes are a headache for ger area residents. Some households try to sanitize by chlorine. During winter time they remove frozen excrements by shovel and litter into ravines”. A geoecological survey result conducted by Prof. Ch.Gonchigsumlaa in 2003-2006 shows that in ger areas of Sharkhad, Denjiin 1000, Khailaast and around electric power plants the contamination of land was 10-16 times higher than other areas of the city. Also in outskirts of city dump places and cemeteries have been expanding their squares with the population growth. These places severely threaten not only to ecosystem but also national security. For many of settlers it is very common to live in the neighborhood of cemeteries and dump points.