Construction work hikes pollution

LAHORE:

It has almost been a decade since the people of the province in general and the people of Lahore in particular have been battling with the scourge of smog.

Meanwhile, the Dean of the Institute of Public Health (IPH), Prof. Dr. Zarfishan Tahir, has raised serious concerns about the escalating air pollution levels and their direct impact on human health.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, she said that the surging levels of carbon dioxide, smoke, dust and toxic gases in the air posed a significant risk to public health.

This hazardous overexposure had been resulting in a notable increase in various health issues, including eye diseases, chest infections, coughs, colds, asthma, and respiratory diseases, she added. To guard against the harmful effects of smog, Dr. Zarfishan urged the people to limit unnecessary outdoor activities and advised them to use face masks when going out.

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In conclusion, Dr. Zarfishan emphasised on “the collective responsibility of citizens in curbing activities that contribute to air pollution”.

The caretaker Punjab government's policies regarding development projects on the one hand and smog prevention on the other have rendered several government agencies in a dilemma.

Vehicular emissions and clouds of dust generated by the development projects have exacerbated the smog problem.

Over the years, Lahore has evolved into a bustling city, and the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), the Environment Protection Department (EPD), the Health Department, the Lahore Metropolitan Corporation and the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) have been on their toes to get the development projects completed on time.

According to sources, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) had proposed a two-month halt in development projects, but this proposal was rejected.

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The construction of an extensive network of roads, underpasses and flyovers alongside renovation of hospitals is contributing to the proliferation of smog.

Smog levels are escalating due to the clouds of dust the air absorbs due to construction activities.

The Punjab Environmental Protection Department’s role is to shut down factories and industries that produce pollution and smog. However, they have only made a little headway in this direction.

With additional input from APP

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2023.