Noose tightens around top polluters in Punjab

Environment Protection Agency joins hands with Local Government to deal with pollution

LAHORE:

The departments of Environment Protection and Local Government have joined hands to tighten the noose around small recovery units that cause environmental damage.

According to details available with The Express Tribune, the two bodies will create a joint team to conduct the cleanup operation against these semi-industrial units that produce pollution in the province.

Members of the special team will have the same powers as Inspectors of Environment Protection Department.

Known as the number one source of pollution in the province, these small recovery units single-handedly are responsible for the smog that chokes much of Punjab each year.

The move by the two provincial bodies comes ahead of the expected smog season in Punjab. Around September each year, dense pollution brings the provincial capital to a grinding halt.

In addition to the planned operation against small recovery units by the departments, the Environment Protection Department (EPD) has also requested the Home Department for the implementation of Section 144.

According to details, the proposed operation against polluters has received the Chief Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik’s blessing. These units, one expert said, are responsible for breaking down items to extract sellable material.

To deal with the deadly smog in the most populated province’s capital, Prime Minister Imran Khan instructed the Department of Environment Protection (EPD)to take swift action.

Over the past few years, pollution has emerged as a serious issue in Lahore. So much so, that environmental experts have called it the fifth season in Punjab. Lahore’s air quality has generated headlines, taking it to the top spot on the list of most polluted cities in the world.

Other moves aimed at protecting the environment include setting term limits for the IEE (Initial Environmental Examination) NOC, which is reduced from 90 to 20 days. All Deputy Commissioners have the authority to issue those certificates. Earlier in 2017, the same powers were handed to the Deputy Commissioners, but they did not exercise them.

These NOCs are mandatory for all government and private projects. They measure and provide certification about the impact of each project on the environment. Without certification from the Environment Protection Department, the projects can not be initiated.

To streamline the process of issuing NOCs, the EPD has reduced the number of required supporting documents to 12. An official of the department said that the number of supporting documents will be reduced to nine over the next few months.

“We have streamlined the process of applying for the NOC,” claimed Zahid Hussain, Secretary Department of Environmental Protection. “Reforms will allow us to reduce the delays in the process,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2020.