Daily Times

LAHORE: Several factories on the outskirts of city are running without adopting emission control practices thus putting the lives of thousands of people at danger.

Around 350 factories present in the area of Ring Road are emitting hazardous smoke. According to local people, most of the factories are not following emission control practices. Approximately, 1,700 factories are functional in the metropolis and only 13 percent mills and industries have installed pollution control system devices.

Citizens have demanded the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to take action and direct officials concerned to adopt emissions control practices.

They claimed that inspectors and officials of district administration took bribe from factory owners and informed them before raids.

They, however, said that the government had failed to ensure smooth supply of gas to these factories thus compelling them to use other alternatives such as rubber and tyres to get energy.

On Sunday, a large number of citizens along with children staged a protest and blocked the main road in the area of Shadipura. They chanted slogans against district administration, Punjab government and Environmental Department. They were carrying placards and banners with slogans inscribed against authorities concerned.

They said that several complaints had been forwarded to the Environment director general and the Lahore district coordination officer (DCO) apprising them of the grave situation but no action was taken.

According to a study, average air pollution in big cities is about four times higher than the World Health Organisation (WHO) limits. While, main causes are vehicular emissions, dust fall and industrial emissions have also become causes of respiratory diseases and eye irritation along with reduced visibility, loss of vegetation, damage to material, effects on growth of plants and also on heritage and monuments.

Last month, a thick blanket of the dense fog blanketing Punjab was witnessed.

While the citizens were resorting to moving around in facemasks for protection, the smog was causing heavy breathing, as well as some eye, nose and throat irritation.

However, the Environment Protection Department (EPD) said though slowly sliding down, the level of pollution generated by mainly three sources was much beyond the human tolerance level.

These included carbon monoxide from India produced after the burning of nearly 32 tonnes of crop residue by its farmers, gases from the drains and waste material from hundreds of factories in northern and northeast Lahore.