Unfit vehicles blamed for smog

LAHORE:

To check smog and pollution in the city, fines of over Rs7.2 million have been imposed on about 32,000 smoke-emitting vehicles.

Fines of Rs2,000 each were imposed on 223 vehicles, while 53 vehicles were impounded for three days since the smog season began.

Meanwhile, according to the meteorological department, there is a possibility of light rain in the city from Friday to Sunday, due to which smog will be significantly reduced. Chief Traffic Officer Lahore Captain (retd) Syed Hamad Abid has formed joint teams of traffic police, environment department and Regional Transport Authority which are checking vehicles near Badami Bagh and other bus terminals six days a week. Vehicles that emit more smoke are being taken to police stations.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Hamad Abid said that the traffic police had started a campaign to eradicate smog in the city from August 20 but it had not worked. The main reason was that after paying the fine, the same car or bus remained on the road. The traffic police official said the department had approached a court for a solution, and after receiving a judicial order to stop such vehicles from plying on the roads had formed joint teams with the transport and environment departments.

He said the joint teams had intensified the operation against vehicles emitting smoke and causing smog.

He said the authorities had fined more than 32,000 vehicles and their documents had been kept by the traffic police. The documents are returned to the owners when they show the fitness certificate from the transport department.

During the special campaign, 223 vehicles were fined Rs2,000 each and 53 vehicles were impounded for three days.

On the other hand, Director Meteorological Department Mian Ajmal told The Express Tribune that rains with strong winds and thundershowers are expected in upper Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Friday to Sunday. Light rain with thunderstorm is expected in Lahore and its environs.

According to Ajmal, even if there is light rain in Lahore, it will reduce the smog by 80 to 90 per cent.

The official said the effects of smog can be greatly reduced if there is less smoke from factories, rain and winds in the city.

According to the air quality index of the environment department, maximum level of smog was reported in the city in the morning.

Senior respiratory doctor Faisal Rafique said a mixture of smoke and fog created smog. This smoke contains toxic substances like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and methane, which cause respiratory diseases. Dr Rafique said smog is a more severe problem for patients with respiratory issues. People who have breathing problems should not go out, avoid smoke as much as possible and use a mask. Dr Rafique said people over 60 years of age should contact a doctor immediately if their condition deteriorates, as they might need antibiotics and other medicines. He said young people affected by smog might need anti-allergy medicines.

The doctor also said the elderly should not go outdoors in the evening or night during heavy smog. He also stressed the importance of wearing mask.

According to Director Provincial Disaster Management Authority Raja Khurram Shehzad Omar, use of substandard petrol and diesel, faulty vehicles and buses not inspected properly are causing smoke.

He said 3,310 complaints had been lodged by the agriculture department as part of measures to curb smog. He said 18 people had been arrested and 338 industrial units shut for emitting smoke.

The PDMA official said 87 FIRs had been registered and fines of Rs1.9 million imposed over violation of restrictions imposed to combat smog.

In another development, sources said that due to a dispute between the transport repartment of Punjab and a foreign company, the process of issuance and renewal of fitness certificates to millions of commercial vehicles after technical inspection had stopped.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2020.