Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi Sunday ordered immediate closure of smoke-emitting kilns and action against the owners under the anti-smog measures, the CM office sources told media.
They said that Naqvi, while on his way to Nishtar Hospital Multan, stopped at Shujaabad Road after seeing black smoke being emitted by a brick-kiln. He went to the kiln and inquired from the workers about their conditions. The CM expressed displeasure with the kiln owners for not implementing the measures ordered by the government to tackle smog. He ordered action against the kiln owners for not adopting the zig-zag technology. The chief minister summoned the DC Multan and ordered him to take action and submit a report to his office.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) also ordered the authorities concerned to take strict action against smoke-emitting vehicles to check the rising smog level.
The court also gave conditional approval of continuing construction work on the Babu Sabu interchange project. Justice Shahid Karim passed the orders while hearing different petitions seeking directions to check rising smog. During the proceedings, Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Ali Randhawa apprised the court that a warning had been issued to factories in Kasur and assured that surprise visits would be made to ensure the court orders. He submitted that efforts were being made to raise awareness among the people for plantation. He further submitted that a ban had been imposed over digging roads and places without prior approval.
However, the court noted that it imposes fine but environmental officials reduce the fine after manipulation. The court observed that first a fine should be imposed on smoke-emitting industries, if they did not comply then demolish them. The court also criticised the deputy commissioner Lahore over inaction and observed that deputy commissioners and police station officials should come out in the field. Moreover, the district administration has launched a crackdown against brick kilns for not adopting zigzag technology and sealed five kilns in order to prevent smog.
Assistant Commissioners along with the district task force have raided in Multan, Shujabad and Jalalpur Pir Wala areas and closed three brick kilns completely by throwing water over continuous violations. Deputy Commissioner Rizwan Qadeer said that there was zero tolerance policy to prevent smog under the directions of caretaker Punjab Chief Minister and brick kiln owners were given a final deadline for adopting zigzag technology. He further said that action was also underway against commercial vehicles and elements involved in the burning of crops residues. Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi inquired about the health of an under-treatment CM Office photographer Usman Zubairi and a driver Aftab Gill at the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences.
