Cheaper industrial waste treatment plants proposed

Environment secy asks developers to market smoke filters in Lahore.

FAISALABAD:

Environment Secretary Saeed Iqbal Wahla said on Friday that the government was working on introducing a waste water treatment plant that would cost less than the imported plants currently available to the industries.

He said speaking at a meeting of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI).

The secretary asked the developers of a smoke treatment plant to visit Lahore and introduce their plant to industries.

He was told that the plant, that costs up to Rs150,000 and is already being used by most members of the Foundries Association of Faisalabad.

The secretary said that the government would consult industrialists and traders on any concerns regarding environment protection regulations.

He said the government realised that industries were not the only polluters of environment.

He said the Environment Protection Department had taken action against some of the violators by first issuing warning notices to them and referring their cases to the Environmental Tribunal if they failed to check violations.

Earlier, FCCI president Muzammal Sultan, District Officer (Environment) Naseem Ahmad, former FCCI presidents Mian Aftab and Sheikh Muhammad Khalid addressed the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2012.