TAXILA: Attock district administration steadily winning the battle against air pollution and smog as measures they took to ensure clean air across the six tehsils of the district are finally yielding positive results as a notable reduction in smog levels had been observed.

Deputy Commissioner Attock Rao Atif Raza expressed these views while presiding over a meeting to review steps against smog in district Attock on Wednesday.

Additional Deputy Commissioner General Aneel Saeed, Secretary Regional Transport Authority Zaheer Ahmed Khan, Assistant Director Environment Shah Zira Maryam, assistant commissioners, officials of local administration, revenue department and other relevant officials were also present on this occasion.

“We are winning the battle against smog and air pollution. Steps we took to ensure clean air are bearing fruit,” he said.

He was of the view that after an extensive crackdown on brick-kilns, factories and smoke-emitting vehicles by the district administration, a notable reduction in smog levels had been observed.

He informed the participants that as part of the new restrictions, the district administration has decided to close all brick kilns across the district until further notice.

“Factories emitting smoke will also be temporarily shut down to help alleviate smog levels,” he added.

Additional Deputy Commissioner General Aneel Saeed informed the participants that the district administration had launched extensive efforts across the district to cope with pollution and smog.

He said that over 30 kilns had been demolished and filled with water to prevent further operation, adding that all kilns which had not adopted zigzag technology had been shut down.

Briefing the participants, secretary Regional Transport Authority Zaheer Ahmed Khan said that in line with these efforts, the district Transport Authority (DTA) has stepped up inspections across the city to enforce these measures.

He informed the participants that daily operations have now been put in place to monitor vehicles across the district on all intercity and inter-district routes to ensure compliance with emission standards.

Mr Khan was of the view that these steps are part of a proactive effort to prevent the air pollution levels from worsening.

During the meeting, it was decided that heavy fines would be imposed on smoke-emitting vehicles. Besides, an effective awareness campaign will be launched to inform the public about the harmful effects of smog.

Regular meetings will be held with bus terminal managers and transporters, directing them to prevent smoke-emitting vehicles from operating on the roads.

Gujar Khan

Authorities in Gujar Khan and Sohawa tehsils sealed five brick kilns and five industrial plants for polluting the environment on Wednesday.

According to details, the action has been taken in line with the directions of the Punjab government to launch a crackdown against the smoke-emitting industrial plans, brick kilns and factories.

According to Deputy Commissioner Jhelum, Meesam Abbas, actions have been intensified against environmentally harmful operations, adding that the district environment protection department was carrying out inspections of brick kilns, crushing plants, and factories to ensure that they comply with latest environment-friendly technologies.

DC Abbas said that three brick kilns operating with outdated technology were demolished in Sohawa tehsil.

The deputy commissioner further said that the environment department also inspected five stone-crushing plants in Jhelum and sealed them for lacking essential dust-control wet scrubbers.

Similarly, Gujar Khan Assistant Commissioner, Khizar Hayat Goraya, also inspected several brick kilns and sealed two of them in Negail village for lacking zigzag technology.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2024