LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to take action against those causing air and environmental pollution through burning of crop stubble, garbage, and industrial and vehicular emissions.

Directions have also been issued to authorities concerned to enforce the section 144 throughout the province as part of efforts to combat the smog. Under section 144, burning of crop residue and garbage has been banned across the province for one month from October 6.

The directions were issued at a meeting presided over by Chief Secretary Punjab Kamran Ali Afzal at Civil Secretariat.

The Chief Secretary said there is a need to adopt preventive measure and enhance awareness to mitigate factors behind smog. Use of substandard fuel in steel mills, factories and burning of crop stubble and garbage would not be allowed in any case, he further directed.

He also directed all the relevant departments to strictly implement the instructions on smog control, warning that no negligence would be tolerated in this regard. He also urged people to play their role in efforts to protect the environment.

The participants were told that only new zig-zag technology brick kilns would be allowed to operate and strict action would be taken against the violators. The additional Chief Secretary (Home), Administrative Secretaries of different departments including industries, environment and agriculture and Director-General of provincial disaster management authority attended the meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021