Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) organised anti-smog awareness walk in the Industrial area of Ravi city jurisdiction to highlight measures for preventing smog and air pollution.
The walk was led by officials of RUDA and Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA). Addressing the participants, RUDA Deputy Director Environment Nadia Tahir urged the participants not to burn crop residue, emphasizing that such practices significantly contribute to smog formation.
Highlighting the major causes of smog, RUDA and EPA officials informed the public that burning garbage, old tyres, leather waste, smoke-emitting vehicles, use of substandard fuel in kilns, burning of polythene bags, and setting fire to paddy and sugarcane residues all release harmful smoke that contributes to smog.
RUDA Deputy Director Environment informed the participants that the authority is actively conducting operations to curb air pollution and smog-causing activities in Ravi City adding that the Government of Punjab has imposed a complete ban on practices that lead to smog, including the burning of crop residues, emission of industrial smoke, burning of municipal waste, tyres, and plastic materials.
She further stated that in line with directives of Punjab government, all activities harmful to public health and those contributing to environmental pollution and smog are banned in Ravi city jurisdiction while highlighting the purpose of organizing the smog awareness walk to educate the public about smog prevention and draw attention to the seriousness of the issue. The officials of RUDA and EPA stressed that smog is a dangerous environmental hazard that requires collective efforts to combat. She warned that smog can cause coughing, flu, respiratory illnesses, and other health complications, urging citizens to play their part in reducing pollution for a cleaner and healthier environment.