The government is likely to fail in achieving the target of converting all brick kilns to modern zig-zag technology by December 31 owing to red-tapism and coronavirus induced lockdowns in the country, The Express Tribune learnt on Saturday.
An official of the Environment Protection Department (EPD) disclosed that scarcely 10% of brick kilns have been converted to the new technology owing to lockdowns. The government has to impose an embargo on obsolete brick kilns – as per the decision of the Lahore High Court – if the smog hits Punjab, especially the provincial capital, in November, he indicated.
Though he pointed out, there is a forecast of limited intensity smog this year, the situation would be more adverse amid Covid-19 pandemic.
Experts have already warned that both Covid-19 and smog causes respiratory problems that is why the upcoming smog season has set alarm bells ringing for policymakers, he maintained.
The Lahore High Court, earlier this week, issued an order to keep brick kilns closed from November 7 to December 31 and directed brick kiln owners to follow these directions.
Justice Shahid Karim issued a three-page verdict on a petition against not taking timely action to control smog. The court also directed authorities concerned to launch a crackdown against vehicles emitting smoke and the factories causing environmental pollution.
It has also instructed authorities to utilise all available resources to control smog by implementing decisions of the Judicial Water Commission.
Brick Kiln Owners Association General Secretary Mehr Abdul Haq told The Express Tribune that Punjab has around 10,000 brick kilns out of which around 800 (8%) brick kilns have been converted to modern zig-zag technology.
Last year, the government had announced to offer soft loans to brick kiln owners for adopting new zig-zag technology but this initiative is yet to materialise.
“Brick kilns owners are looking towards the government for support but hardly anyone will succeed in getting help,” he claimed.
He pointed out that the court had also ordered the closure of brick kilns from November 7 to rein in pollution to counter smog issue.
“We, as a representative body of brick kiln owners, have reservations over this decision.
Earlier, all brick kilns were closed owing to Covid-19 induced lockdowns and now we hear another lockdown owing to smog. The court should tell us when these brick kilns will open. Almost entire 2020 has gone in lockdowns and now the government is expecting that the cash-starved brick kiln owners would invest in new technology,” he said.
Responding to a question, an official of the provincial transport department disclosed that there was no law or regulation available to inspect or regulate fitness of private vehicles plying on roads.
“The government agencies only check the emission of commercial vehicles owing to the absence of law to inspect all vehicles,” he added.
During a recent media interaction, Punjab Minister for Environment Protection Muhammad Rizwan maintained that indiscriminate action was being taken against factories which were causing environmental pollution in the province.
He highlighted that the government has formulated a comprehensive strategy to convert rest of the brick kilns to at zig-zag technology.
He said the Punjab government was ready to facilitate the owners of brick kilns in form of finance to transfer at modern technology to tackle the smog problem.
Responding to a question, the minister said the most dangerous and harmful smoke comes from burning of waste which affects the mental health of children in particular and therefore it is important to control it before the violation.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2020.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ