Over 300 FIRs registered over pollution

Commission submits follow-up report on anti-smog measures to LHC

LAHORE:

Following the Lahore High Court’s orders, the Judicial Water and Environmental Commission has reported the registration of over 300 first information reports (FIRs) against those responsible for smoke emission, operating brick kilns without zigzag technology and selling substandard fuel.

A focal person submitted a follow-up report on behalf of JWEC Chairman Justice (retd) Ali Akbar Qureshi before the court of LHC's Justice Shahid Karim in a case related to measures against smog.

According to the report, the number of brick kilns out of 8,142 converted from the old bull trench to zigzag technology has reached 6,754. The deputy director of the environmental protection department stated that the number of industries sealed on the emission of excessive smoke and particulate matter since the launch of the campaign is 225. The number of FIRs lodged over smoke emission is 78.

The official stated that the department inspected 396 brick kilns or which 14 were operating without zigzag technology and 20 20 FIRs were registered over violation of environmental laws.

The number of vehicles checked reached 39,528. Action was taken against the owners of 10,466 vehicles. As many as 2,485 vehicles were impounded and fines of

Rs11.5 million was imposed as part of measures to avert smog.

The officials concerned inspected 491 fuel stations, finding 139 of them selling substandard fuel. They lodged 144 FIRs, arrested 64 people and sealed 143 fuel stations.

In addition, 17 sugar industries were issued warning notices, while three closed down their businesses. Representatives of 16 sugar industries were summoned before the commission on February 9. Retesting of samples was required for three industries, while the rest had to submit their replies on the installation of wastewater treatment plants.

The court was informed that the JWEC took notice of the sewage infrastructure charges to be paid by the Lahore Development Authority's (LDA) approved private housing schemes and cooperative housing societies under a notification dated April 28, 2001, and a subsequent notification issued on May 26, 2011.

It was informed that the public health serviced of the Water and Sanitation Agency did not have the capacity to recover the charges. Out of 122 schemes, 73 have made partial or no payment.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan had directed the LDA in an earlier case to recover the charges and sell mortgaged plots to meet the cost of the development work.

The commission recommended court directives to the LDA to facilitate WASA in the sale of mortgaged plots of the defaulting housing schemes and societies.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2021.