Smoke from charcoal, brick kilns chokes Kloi residents

Thick smoke emitted from wood-burning charcoal kilns and brick kilns in Kloi and its surrounding areas has made breathing increasingly difficult for residents, prompting authorities to step in after repeated public complaints.

According to local residents, a large number of charcoal-producing kilns and brick kilns are operating in and around Kloi, where wood is being burnt on a massive scale. The resulting smoke has severely affected air quality, causing health problems and discomfort for people living nearby.

After public complaints, the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), Regional Office in Mirpurkhas, has launched a comprehensive environmental monitoring exercise under the Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014. The initiative falls within SEPA's regulatory and enforcement mandate and is being carried out by its technical team.

SEPA officials said the purpose of the monitoring is to assess the environmental impact of charcoal kilns, particularly in terms of air quality, emission of toxic smoke, use of substandard fuel and compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations.

They added that the inspection is a pre-enforcement measure aimed at documenting ground realities before initiating legal or administrative action.

During the monitoring process, SEPA teams observed that smoke emissions from several charcoal kilns pose serious threats to public health, the local environment and overall air quality, especially in nearby residential areas.

Samples and relevant data have been collected for detailed analysis and record.

The SEPA has reiterated that strict action will be taken against any industrial or commercial unit found violating environmental laws.

Based on the findings, enforcement measures may include closure of non-compliant units under Environmental Protection Orders (EPOs), imposition of fines and further legal proceedings.