For the first time, an air quality monitoring mobile station was used to monitor air pollution in one of the busiest areas of the city, the Katcheri Chowk, on Wednesday.
Results of the monitoring of pollution in the air from various areas of the garrison city are expected on Thursday (today), officials told The Express Tribune.
The Automatic Air Quality Mobile Station has been set up at the Rawalpindi Commissioner Office for air pollution monitoring of Katcheri Chowk, district administration
Officials said the use of the mobile station would help determine the amount of particulate matter in the air in Kachehri Chowk and nearby areas. The Automatic Air Quality Mobile Station monitors the atmosphere for six hours continuously for air pollution monitoring.
Data collection is the first step in ascertaining the magnitude of air pollution issue and helps in determining various measures to reduce it, officials said.
They added that the district administration acting on the directives of the Punjab government has already closed down brick kilns, coal tar and stone crushing plants in the area to reduce smog during winters.
In the Rawalpindi district, some 50 brick kilns, 11 stone crushing machines, and three coal tar manufacturing centres have been sealed recently.
Some 110 factories and units have been issued warning notices before the commencement of operation last month. The smoke-emitting factories in Punjab would remain shut until December 31 to mitigate smog.
The federal and Punjab governments have formed joint teams to carry out action against smoke-emitting factories in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Special teams will also have night-squads as most of the owners were reportedly opening sites during wee hours while keeping them close throughout the day to avert action.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2020.
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