Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab ordered on Sunday intensifying coordination between the Environment Ministry and governorates to solve the problem of air pollution caused by the burning of rice straw.

During a meeting with Environment Minister Khalid Fahmy, Mahlab called for referring any private or public company that discharges its waste water in the Nile River to the public prosecution.

"All factories should legalize their status as soon as possible otherwise they will be closed," Mahlab stressed.

He also ordered finalizing the industrial wastewater station in Quweisna, Menofiya, as soon as possible to permanently solve the problem of industrial effluent.