TEHRAN Tehran's Mayor Morteza Alviri said here Saturday that 2,000 hectares are to be added to Tehran's green areas this year.

Alviri told a ceremony marking inauguration of a park north of Tehran that Tehran's Municipality is to establish 29 local and regional parks.

He said the move is aimed to reduce air and sound pollution and establish centers where people can spend their spare time.

He added that before triumph of the 1979 Islamic Revolution there were just 3,800 hectares of green areas in Tehran.

The official said 14 parks were set up in 1999 and 19 in 2000.

This year too, he added, 29 parks will be built.

(IRNA)