Stubborn Smog Defies Remedies

Naveed ul Haq Malik

Lahore: In the wake of uncontrolled expansion, poorly conceived development initiatives, and inadequate time management by city authorities, Lahore finds itself entrenched in yet another winter of dense smog, maintaining its regrettable status as the most polluted city through the final week of November.

Despite implementing a smart lockdown spanning three days weekly and enforcing a vehicular traffic ban along Mall Road on Sundays, the situation remains unaltered. This ongoing predicament continues to jeopardize the health of millions of inhabitants in this historically rich city, exposing them to a myriad of pollution-related ailments.

Environmentalists and the public alike point to the ill-timed commencement of projects such as the Controlled Access Corridor on Bund Road, Shahdara, Akbar Chowk, Imamia Colony Flyover, and ongoing construction as significant contributors to the already hazardous levels of airborne dust particles.

The evident lack of coordination among city management entities exacerbates the situation, rendering various measures taken by the caretaker government futile in addressing the escalating smog and deteriorating environmental conditions.

Throughout this past week, the air quality in the provincial metropolis remained alarmingly unhealthy, leaving residents awaiting tangible results from the efforts of multiple police and civic authorities.

Despite the concerted efforts of agencies like the Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA), Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC), Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), Traffic Police, Horticulture Department, and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the anticipated visible improvements have yet to materialize.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports inspecting 6,297 industrial units, uncovering widespread violations, resulting in the closure of 1,011 units, lodging of 469 FIRs, and imposing fines exceeding Rs 100 million. Despite these measures, the situation continues to spiral out of control.

Besides this, the department also checked 16,815 vehicles in the city, of which 6,798 were issued challans besides impounding 706 for emitting excessive smoke, according to Director General (DG-EPA) Zaheer Abbas Malik.

We have also established smog cells and smog control rooms, pre-smog and anti-smog squads, developed the Eco-Watch App, established anti-smog committees in all districts, formed 12 special squads in Lahore district, converted brick-kilns to zigzag technology, installed emission control devices (ECD), and much more to combat smog, he stated.

Meanwhile, Lahore Waste Management Company’s (LWMC) enforcement wing has also lodged 550 FIRs against individuals for violations in nine housing societies as part of last month’s crackdown on offences.

For burning waste in public, over 1,200 fines exceeding Rs. 2.2 million were issued, disclosed LWMC Chief Executive Officer Babar Sahib Din.

Our action is in line with the Local Government Act and Section 188 implemented for smog prevention. We have impounded more than 50 vehicles for illegal waste, besides issuing over 1,453 warning notices for minor violations.

Babar mentioned the launch of a tree plantation campaign by LWMC and Pak Mission Society under the banner of the Child-Driven Climate Action Project and the selection of 10 government and private schools in the city for this activity.

In efforts to control pollution, the Parks and Horticulture Authority also claims to be embarking on a plantation campaign.

“We are actively pursuing our targets to expand the green cover of Lahore, besides promoting cultural sports and raising awareness among youth to make them contribute to environmental protection, said Director General Muhammad Tahir Wattoo.

The PDMA has declared smog a calamity and taken action against the polluters by registering FIRs and imposing fines.

We arrested seven people, imposed a Rs 1.8 million fine, and registered 21 FIRs for burning crop residue, according to an informed spokesperson for the Relief Commissioner and PDMA Mazhar Hussain.

He also mentioned indiscriminate action against brick-kilns and smoke-emitting vehicles.

Meanwhile, Punjab Transport Company also took action against 18,000 polluting vehicles, 5,010 four-wheelers for using prohibited and unsafe fuel, and 3,818 vehicles plying on roads without a fitness certificate.

Not a single vehicle was being spared over rules violations, said Faiq Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer, PTC.

Even after listening to the plausible claims of these authorities, the situation on the ground tells the story otherwise, wherein thousands of citizens are falling ill due to uncontrolled smog.

Officials in the health department state that major hospitals like the Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Sir Gangaram Hospital, Mayo Hospital, Mian Munshi Hospital, Fatima Memorial Hospital, Ittefaq Hospital, Shalamar Hospital, etc. received hundreds of patients with respiratory and lung diseases during this smoggy season.

Health experts have warned the ailing to remain cautious of smog and air pollution as they intensify already existing diseases, especially in children and elderly people.

Since the situation persists, there is a need for better coordinated efforts among different provincial government organs for more accurate and aggressive measures.

The city masters will have to increase forest cover, promote electric vehicles and cleaner fuel, decrease transport burdens, manage time for development, and ensure better cleanliness.

Since fog is a trans-boundary phenomenon wherein pollutants also travel to Pakistan from the Indian side, when they mix with pollutants, especially suspended particulate matter in the air, it creates thick smog that is highly injurious to human health. Therefore, the authorities must tackle this issue beyond routine measures.

There is also a dire need to tighten noose around Baboos, enjoying facilities on common man’s tax money, and asking them to roam around their jurisdictions to check open burning of crop residue, especially along M-3 and M-4.

The feature was released by APP.

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