Polluters to be fined as much as Rs1 million
The government, by joining hands with the private sector, can do a better job of fighting against climate change and environmental degradation. AFP
The Ministry of Environmental Protection has increased the fines and penalties for those responsible for polluting the natural air environment by spreading toxic smoke and toxic gases to control smog in the coming season.
The Punjab governor has issued a notification formally approving the increase.
The new notification’s upper cap on fines has been increased to Rs1 million. In such cases, the brick kiln, factory, and tire shop responsible for the pollution would also be demolished.
As part of its crackdown on polluters, motorcycles, scooters and rickshaws emitting smoke would also be confiscated and the owners fined.
The provincial environment protection department has been authorized to assist local police stations in operations and action in this regard.
As per the notification, smog control committees will be formed in every district and tehsil. The deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners would chair these committees on the district and tehsil level respectively. Officers of the environment protection department would also be members.
As per the notification, ban on burning garbage, tires, crops and residue has been imposed immediately across Punjab.
The use of non-standard fuel in kilns, stone-crushing machines, factories, big bakeries and tire manufacturing plants has also been banned. Anyone using substandard fuel will be fined from Rs0.1 million to Rs1 million and the factory would be demolished.
It has also been made mandatory to use zigzag technology in every brick kiln to reduce fuel combustion, environment control system in factories and CCTV cameras for monitoring.
Brick kilns which pollute the environment could be fined anywhere between Rs100,000 to Rs500,000 along with a challan in the first instance.
Second time offenders could be fined be Rs1 million and their kilns demolished.
The fine for running kilns without zig-zag technology installation is from Rs100,000 to half a million rupees.
The fine for smoke-emitting vehicles has been increased from Rs2,000 to Rs4,000. The fine for burning garbage has been increased from Rs5,000 to Rs10,000. Those who release poisonous gas in the atmosphere would be fined between Rs200,000 to Rs500,000 while their unit would also be demolished.
The penalty polluting the natural air environment has been increased from between Rs200,000 and Rs500,000 to Rs600,000 to Rs1 million.
The tire plant fines were previously Rs100,000 to Rs500,000 which have now been increased to Rs600,000 to Rs1 million.
These fines and punishments have been implemented immediately.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2023.