Staff Reporter
A meeting chaired by Punjab Relief Commissioner Babar Hayat Tarar to review the ongoing smog protection activities in the province was held at the head office of Punjab Disaster Management Authority on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by PDG PDMA Raja Mansoor, Operational Director Nisar Ahmed and other concerned officers.
Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority Raja Mansoor while briefing the Relief Commissioner Punjab said that a notification has been issued banning all activities causing fire and air pollution in the city from October 15 till further notice.
Alert has been issued to all concerned departments including local governments, agriculture department, industry department, traffic police to control smog.
All concerned agencies are ensuring implementation of restrictions on activities that cause air pollution. Action will be taken under Section 144 on fire for disposal of crop residues and solid waste across the province.
Therefore, all the Deputy Commissioners have been assigned the powers of Relief Commissioners. Smoke emitting vehicles will not be allowed on the roads.
Any industry will be allowed to continue operating. All kilns running on old technology will be shut down until transition to new technology. From October 15, all activities that cause dust to build up will also be banned.
Storage of construction materials will not be allowed in any open space nor can sand, soil and cement be moved from one place to another without covering.
All administrative departments must ensure compliance with smog prevention restrictions. PDMA will monitor all operations and provide necessary information transmission services. Smog control operations will be monitored through control room.
Relief Commissioner Punjab while expressing satisfaction over the steps taken by PDMA said, that people avoid litigation and fines by ensuring compliance with sanctions and protect themselves from smog.
It is in the public interest to take legal action against smog protection, he directed the concerned officers of PDMA.