The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) declared smog a “calamity” in Punjab on Wednesday.
PDMA declares smog in Punjab: The province has outlawed any activity that contributes to or causes smog to form.
The PDMA has assigned the authority to take all necessary steps to reduce and control smog to the Deputy Commissioners, as stated in a letter from the Relief Commissioner.
It has outlawed the burning of any kind of crop residue, cars that produce visible smoke or pollutants that exceed permissible limits, and any industry that produces goods without using emission control systems and lowers the Air Quality Index.
Furthermore, the province prohibits all forms of encroachments that impede the smooth flow of traffic on public roads, including footpaths. It also prohibits stone crushers from operating without wet scrubbers, the burning of solid waste, tyres, rubber, and plastics, as well as any kind of parking that might impede the smooth flow of traffic. Additionally, the province prohibits all activities lacking appropriate safeguards that contribute to generation of fugitive dust.
Additionally, authorities have issued instructions to take the necessary actions to prevent unapproved activities that could lead to pollution, uncovered and open dumping or storage of building materials, and the exposed transportation of construction materials, including sand, mud, and cement.
The Punjab caretaker administration issued pollution emergency earlier today, underlining that the province’s transport and school closures would not be enough to address the situation.
Acting chief minister Mohsin Naqvi presided over the conference, which was called to discuss the worsening pollution issue.
As a precautionary measure, the government has mandated that all children attending school wear masks for duration of one month. Naqvi urged everyone to wear masks and emphasised the significance of the decision.
The Lahore High Court ordered the district government to declare a “smog emergency” in provincial capital, which prompted the current development.