No ‘NOC’ for uplift projects until January: EPA

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has banned the issuance of a no objection certificate (NOC) for new development projects until January 31, 2024, to curb the menace of smog in Rawalpindi.

Measures will be enforced to regulate emissions from vehicles, factories, kilns, stone crushers, and the burning of tires for oil. The smog season is set to begin on November 1. Therefore, the air quality in twin cities will be continuously monitored using a pollution index.

Meanwhile, office personnel will oversee pollution levels in all six districts of the Rawalpindi division through Google. Additionally, a ban on operating stone crushers and shops where tires are burned for oil will be in effect till the end of January.

Only environmentally friendly kilns equipped with zigzag technology will be permitted to operate. Violation of these directives will result in a fine of Rs100,000. Moreover, the anti-smog squad is actively operational within the Rawalpindi division for the smog season which is likely to persist from November 1 to February 28.

Read: Smog begins to choke city

The Department of Environmental Protection has also issued red notices to 1,230 kilns, 32 stone crushing machines, and 26 agencies engaged in the burning of tires for oil, in accordance with the Anti-Smog Act throughout the entire Rawalpindi division.

Concurrently, Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema has instructed the Regional Transport Authority to initiate actions against vehicles and motorcycles that emit smoke in collaboration with the traffic police. Smoke-emitting vehicles and motorcycles, as well as public transport vehicles lacking fitness certificates, will be promptly impounded.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2023.