Brick kilns, stone crushing plants shut to curb smog

Move comes as administration takes steps against toxic fog

RAWALPINDI:

In a bid to control smog, some 300 brick kilns, 150 stone crushing machines, and 15 coal tar manufacturing units in the district have been shut down by the Rawalpindi administration for nearly two months.

Along with it, at least 11 brick kilns, six stone crushers, and two coal tar units were sealed by the administration for violating the government orders.

A crackdown on smoke-emitting factories was conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Deputy Director Amin Baig on Saturday.

The EPA teams carried out an action in different parts of the district including Taxila, Gujjar Khan, and Chek Beli Khan, and sealed smoke-emitting factories and manufacturing units.

Baig told The Express Tribune that factories emitting toxic smoke would be sealed to control smog in Punjab during the winter season.

He added that some 110 factories and units have been issued warning notices before the commencement of operation on November 9. The smoke-emitting factories in Punjab would remain shut until December 31 to mitigate smog.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Commissioner Muhammad Mahmood on Saturday directed the authorities concerned to take strict action against smoke emitting vehicles, burning of crop residues including the closure of brick kilns working on old methodology to curtail smog.

Presiding over a meeting of Deputy Commissioners of Rawalpindi division here, he said agricultural sector is responsible for the spread of 20 per cent smog through crop residues while the transport sector is 46 per cent responsible for smog which included smoke emitting vehicles, blended petrol, improper maintenance of vehicle engines etc.

The Commissioner directed all the concerned agencies for prevention of smog including environment department, traffic police, transport authority and agriculture department and asked them to play and observe prescribed Standard Operating Procedures.

He said smog can only be dealt with a comprehensive strategy, adding that it is imperative for all concerned to perform their duties diligently.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2020.