Measures to counter smog: Minister chairs preliminary meeting of cabinet's body

Punjab Environment Minister Muhammad Rizwan has directed the Environment Protection Department (EPD) and other departments concerned to ensure implementation on plan formulated to cope with smog in letter and spirit.

Warning that no leniency will be tolerated in this regard, the Minister also asked the provincial transport department to stop plying of two-stroke vehicles. He urged the EPD Secretary to meet representatives of steel mills to convince them to install latest technology to avoid air pollution.

The Minister was addressing the preliminary meeting of cabinet sub-committee convened for better and smooth implementations of anti-smog measures. The meeting discussed different issues in detail pertaining to measures taken to prevent smog and violations of environment.

Secretary Environment Saima Saeed briefed the minister that CM Punjab has constituted a sub-committee after the orders of court to monitor progress on actions taken by all concerned departments/agencies to prevent and control smog in the light of recommendations of smog commission headed by Dr Pervaiz Hassan.

Representative of transport department told the minister that a summary moved to federal government regarding electric and hybrid vehicles, especially city buses and E-Rickshaws to be introduced from January 2020 and in this regard negotiations were underway with the vehicles manufacturing companies for the introduction of electric vehicles. Industry representative told that the department is working on announcing a scheme of loan at discounted rate of 6% for brick kilns by state bank for zigzag technology, duty free imports of scrubbers for steel furnaces and local refinery to be upgraded in three years.

Representative of environment department said that the draft regulatory act has been formulated for the eradication of polythene bags and use of disposable plastic items and the draft act would be presented to the legislative committee of the Punjab cabinet for approval in next few days.

Representative of finance department said that the Punjab government is ensuring the provision of financial assistance for the installation of clean production technology in industries causing pollution and promotion of green investment through Punjab Green Development Programme.

Representatives of forest department briefed the minister that a 60,000 kanal area of land had been identified for urban forestry in Lahore and its suburbs, while representative of agriculture briefed the minister that in the districts of red zone Section 144 has been imposed, the burning of crop residue and garbage has been banned and only the new zigzag technology brick kilns will be allowed to operate and the department is working to introduce latest technology to waste residue of crops.