During a preparatory meeting to tackle the issue of smog in coming winter, the Environment Department Punjab (EPD) has decided to serve notices on brick kilns to convert their kilns on zig-zag technology or be ready to face closure as was done last year.
The Punjab Agriculture Department was also asked to launch a campaign from September 01 to create awareness amongst the growers about disadvantage of stubble burning which heavily contribute in smog. The special meeting of smog commission held in Punjab Environment Protection Department under the chairmanship of Dr Pervaiz Hassan was attended by officials of different government departments, representatives of steel mills and brick kilns.
The meeting was informed that Punjab experienced period of low visibility due to fog, mist and smog between November and February each year for almost 10 to 25 days. The participants were told that industrial units both large and small, many of which use furnace oil with high sulphur contents, burning of agricultural residue and municipal waste and vehicular emissions were the main source of these pollutants.
A wide range of small to medium scale industries including brick kilns and steel mills, furnace and others make a much larger contribution as compared to the size of their economic activity due to use of waste fuel such as used tyres, paper, wood and textile waste result in smog in winter season.
All Pakistan Brick Kiln Association President Soeib Niazi informed that over 330 kilns had been converted to zig-zag technology while many others would be converted soon. He said many owners were unable to convert their kilns to the zig-zag due to high cost and this issue can be resolved by bank financing. Niazi assured that his association will support government's effort to deal with the issue of air pollution in the province. The issue of stubble burning was also discussed in the meeting. The EPD Secretary informed that a letter has been written to agriculture department, requesting to ban burning of rice stubbles during winter season.
Stakeholders also discussed other major cause of air pollution and vehicular emission. They suggested that the government should formulate the policy to introduce low sulphur content fuel in country. They also highlighted the needs of better traffic control by restricting the number of vehicles playing on the roads during high pollution episodes. A systematic public awareness campaign focusing the advantages of use alternates to motor was also suggested in meeting.
EPA spokesman Naseemur Rehman Shah while talking to Business Recorder said it was conveyed to the stakeholders in the first preparatory meeting of this year's smog season that zero tolerance will be observed against the polluters. "Industrialists were also requested to update their system of controlling air pollution otherwise they would be penalized," he said. Smog Commission Chairman Dr Pervaiz Hassan concluded that every step would be taken as per the Supreme Court orders to avoid smog-like conditions in Punjab province.