Environmental protection: CCTV cameras to be installed at steel mills to monitor pollution

EPA seals off mills spreading pollution and in non-compliance of the agency

PESHAWAR/ ISLAMABAD: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created an online dust managing system to ensure strict monitoring of steel mills.

According to this system, three CCTV cameras will be installed in every steel mill in the industrial areas of Sector I-9 and Sector I-10 in Islamabad.

The online dust management centre will be established in the main building of EPA which will be linked with security cameras in the industries so that the pollution caused there could be monitored from the agency’s headoffice.

According to official sources, the EPA, on the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, has decided to take strict action against the steel mills spreading pollution in sectors I-9 and I-10.

“EPA has sealed four steel mills which were spreading pollution and were non-compliant with environmental standards,” EPA Director General Farzana Altaf Shah told Daily Express.

So far, the online pollution management system and CCTV cameras have been installed in six steel mills, namely, Zia Steel Mill, Mustehkum Steel Mill, Pak-Iran Steel Mill, Siddiqui Steel Mill, Medcast Steel Mill and Karachi Steel Mill.

Shah also said that after these six steel mills, the online managing system will also be installed in the steel re-rolling mills in the second phase so that the cause of pollution could be determined and corrective measures can be taken against these steel industries.

Official sources said that an inspection team is conducting surprise visits of the industrial area to check pollution and discharge of industrial waste.

This inspection team comprises of EPA representatives and director of Supreme Court’s human rights cell and member of Human Rights Commission.

Besides, two police officers will also escort the survey team, sources said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2018.