Out of 215 brick kilns in Rawalpindi district, owners of 60 kilns have converted their kilns to modern eco-friendly zigzag technology while shifting of 15 kilns to new technology is in the process, officials said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has launched a crackdown on 114 kiln owners across the district who refused to transfer to new technology despite the ban.
All the kiln owners across the district have been also been reminded to transfer the kilns to zigzag technology by December 31, 2020, said EPD Deputy Director Asghar Ali Rana.
He said that from January 1, no kiln in the district will be allowed to operate without eco-friendly zigzag technology.
Rana added that the special teams have been formed for the crackdown from the given date. “EPD field staff will conduct the operation under the supervision of Inspector Abdul Salam against brick kilns spewing black smoke,” he said.
The officer said that in the light of the Supreme Court (SC) order, the Punjab government has given a deadline of December 31 to transfer all the brick kilns across the province to eco-friendly technology.
The old technology used in kilns emits toxic black smoke which causes smog and deadly diseases such as asthma, tuberculosis and even cancer.
Rana added that outdated technology was severely damaging the environment. On the other hand, the new technology emits eco-friendly white smoke. He further said that geo-mapping of all kilns in the Rawalpindi district has been completed.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2020.
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