Bishkek:Kyrgyzstan plans to remove all IQAir air quality monitoring sensors installed across the country, with six out of the twelve devices already dismantled. This decision was announced by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision Zhenishbek Seidaliev during a meeting of the Committee on Finance, Budget, Entrepreneurship, and Competition Development of Parliament.

According to 24.kg News Agency, Seidaliev highlighted that the readings from the IQAir sensors significantly differ from those provided by the Hydrometeorological Service, leading the ministry to consider the data from these devices as unreliable. The deputy minister pointed out that while anyone can physically install these sensors, the information they collect and upload is incorrect, mainly because the devices have exceeded their service life, resulting in unreliable readings.

MP Ulanbek Zhaanbaev responded to the announcement by highlighting that removing the sensors does not address the actual issue of air quality. He emphasized that despite the discussions over the data's reliability, air pollution remains a significant problem in Kyrgyzstan. Zhaanbaev also noted an increase of more than 20 percent in the incidence of respiratory diseases, underscoring the ongoing health challenges related to air pollution.