PEPD seals 216 smoke emitting furnace units

Owners of brick kilns have been directed to close their work by October 20

LAHORE: The Punjab Environment Protection Department (PEPD) sealed 216 smoke emitting furnaces and other units. As many as 86 FIRs were registered against the incidents at various police stations of the district during the current year.

PEPD Deputy Director Misbahul Haq Khan Lodhi told APP that directives had been issued to all steel melting furnaces and smoke-emitting factories located in various industrial zones of the city to control pollution. "To overcome industrial pollution and smog, the department had earlier directed 337 steel melting furnaces and industrial units to plant trees," he said.

He added said that special 'surveillance' and inspection teams have started carrying out a survey of the smoke level in industrial estates of the nine towns of the city. Lodhi further said that in the next stage, a special cell would raid re-rolling mills, tanneries, oil and ghee mills, marble cutting, polishing, pharmaceutical, galvanising, metal work and engineering units. He said the department has, so far, issued warnings to the owners of 91 brick kilns in Lahore district for using conventional methods at brick-kilns.

Owners of these brick kilns have been directed to close their installations by October 20, 2018, otherwise, strict action would be taken against them, he said. "A plan to establish 'Technology Transfer Institute' was underway which will help introduce kiln owners to use environment-friendly and feasible technologies for baking bricks," he said.

Replying to a question, Lodhi said that this year, smog season is likely to be started from October 20 and will persist till the end of December. "During the smog season, all old and conventional industrial units will be closed," he said. The installation of new brick kilns was banned, he said. The PEPD official added that a strategy would help promote zigzag technology across the province.

To another query, he said that on the direction of the Punjab government, the Punjab Forest Department, including all formations of environment department, were distributing free saplings among students, civil society and various organisations. All Pakistan Brick Kiln Association (APBKA) President Shoaib Khan Niazi told APP that due to the lack of technical expertise, the association was still far behind compared to new technology. He said in China, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and some other countries, the zigzag technology was being run successfully at brick kilns. Niazi further said that 25 model zigzag brick kilns would start working in Raja Jang (Kasur), Morh Khunda, Rawalpindi, Khanewal, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Islamabad and many other areas of the province.

According to the 2018 Global Climate Risk Index, released by the public policy group Germaneatch, Pakistan is among the 10 countries most affected by climate change.