Department of Environment Punjab In the coming days Smog Drone monitoring system has been introduced to deal with the situation, but the question arises as to how this system will be effective and what steps have been taken so far.
Provincial Spokesperson Deptt Environment Sajid Bashir told Independent Urdu that air monitoring of polluting elements in Punjab, including factory chimneys, would be done by drones.
Sajid Bashir said, ‘Mostly it is because we don’t have enough people to go everywhere. In such a case, those drones which have a good range are being used and the Google coordinates of the factories where smoke is coming out of the chimneys are locked and the factory is closed by sending a team there.
He said that the system was first started from Gujranwala. Each district will do its own monitoring, all the videos will be saved and informed to the concerned officer so that he can take immediate action.
He said that at present we have taken two drones for Gujranwala while for Lahore we are using four drones of the Forest Office while smog is mostly generated in Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib and Faisalabad. More drones for these districts will be purchased in the second phase.
He said: ‘We have also introduced a vehicle called ‘Hawkeye’ in Lahore which has a camera on top which rotates 360 degrees. This vehicle moves in industrial areas, its monitoring is done in the control room established in Lahore head office.
Summer season is not over yet but smog has started in Punjab.
According to the International Air Quality Index, on Tuesday morning, Lahore ranked first in the country in terms of pollution with an air quality index of 164, while it is ranked fourth in the world. (Index changes hourly)
According to the forecaster, pollution or smog is expected to increase continuously.
Speaking to Independent Urdu, Chief Meteorologist Shahid Abbas said: ‘Smog has started since the last three weeks of August and it will increase further as the month of September does not have good rains but very little rains.’
Shahid Abbas said that there is rain on September 13 and 14, but it will not make any difference. After that is the dry season.
He said that there is some moisture in the ground now, but it will not matter when the dry season starts, it will increase after two or three weeks. Dust and traffic will increase it the most and our air quality index will deteriorate considerably.’
He said that the regular smog will start from the end of September and it will last till December.
He said that the Environment Department has created a new cell called Environment Monitoring and Management Cell (EMMC) whose mandate is artificial rains.
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“The secretary of the environment department is its chairman and 11 people from different departments are its members, including myself. We have also had a meeting, we will manage the artificial rains when and where it is needed.
Shahid Abbas said that ‘artificial rain does not have any significant benefit worldwide, but this is a step that we have taken, which will help to eliminate smog to some extent. It is a different matter that the method is expensive.’
Sajid Bashir, the spokesperson of the Department of Meteorology, said that the thing to think about is that for the last three to four years, the Department of Environment has taken so many measures for smog, what has been the result?
He said that 44 such plants were demolished across Punjab, including Lahore, which used to burn tires to make carbon and pyrolysis, while the meters and transformers of the remaining ones were removed so that they could not work.
He said that usually such operations are started after October during the smog but this time the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has started the crackdown from April 1.
EPA Punjab inspected 43,609 industrial units and brick kilns in Punjab during the last 150 days, demolished 315 units, sealed 1,444 industrial units and kilns and registered 1,425 FIRs. While imposing a fine of more than 14 crore rupees on them, more than 27 lakh rupees have been recovered so far.
Stating the data, Sajid revealed that EPA teams have so far demolished 223 brick kilns along with 92 industrial units in all the districts of Punjab.
He said that EPA Punjab in Lahore inspected 1,857 industrial units and sealed 110 units along with brick kilns and demolished 54 units and registered 54 FIRs and imposed a fine of Rs 15 lakh.
In Faisalabad, 1,492 inspections, 183 seals, 680 notices and 1025 million rupees were fined.
In Sheikhupura, 1198 inspections, 195 notices, 125 seals, 86 FIRs and 930,000 fines were filed.
This includes 1788 inspections, 398 notices, 140 seals, 50 FIRs and a fine of Rs 140,000 in Kasur.
He said that since carbon is cheaper than electricity and coal, it is still coming into industries and if any industry is using it, we are not allowing it to operate unless they have their own emission control system. ECS) or emission control systems are not installed.
“Ever since we tightened up, industries have started installing ECS systems. Second, we have put the chimneys of every industry online, that is, every industry installs its own camera and gives us access to it 24 hours a day.
He said that despite this smog is increasing.
The reason is that 70% of the land of our Punjab is agricultural, on the days when Monji (crops) are to be harvested, 70% of Punjab is on fire. Second, 60 percent of the pollution is from transport, pollution from industry is 16 percent. The second most important factor is that even in Amritsar the crops are harvested within days and the wind direction is also towards us during these days. How can we reduce the pollution coming from there?’
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#Punjab #effective #air #monitoring #system #smog
2024-09-11 19:17:32
Effects of smog in Pakistan
Table of Contents
Punjab’s Smog Crisis: How Effective Will the Drone Monitoring System Be?
Punjab, Pakistan is no stranger to smog, a persistent environmental issue that has plagued the region for years. The situation is expected to worsen in the coming days, with the summer season yet to end and smog already making its presence felt. To combat this, the Department of Environment, Punjab has introduced a drone monitoring system to track polluting elements, including factory chimneys [[1]]. But the question remains: how effective will this system be in addressing the root causes of smog in Punjab?
According to Sajid Bashir, Provincial Spokesperson for the Department of Environment, the drone monitoring system is designed to monitor industrial areas, with each district responsible for its own monitoring.
Effects of smog in Pakistan
Combating Smog in Punjab: Introducing Drone Monitoring Systems and Other Measures
Smog has become a persistent problem in Punjab, Pakistan, causing respiratory issues and other health problems for its citizens. In recent years, the province has witnessed severe smog episodes, forcing authorities to shut down cities and restrict outdoor activities. To combat this issue, the Department of Environment in Punjab has introduced a drone monitoring system to monitor and control polluting elements in the region.
The Drone Monitoring System
The drone monitoring system is a recent initiative by the Department of Environment to tackle smog in Punjab. According to Provincial Spokesperson Deptt Environment Sajid Bashir, the system uses drones to monitor air quality and identify polluting elements in the region. The drones are equipped with cameras that can detect smoke emissions from factory chimneys and other sources of pollution. The system is designed to provide real-time data to authorities, enabling them to take immediate action against polluters.
The drone monitoring system was first launched in Gujranwala and has since been expanded to other districts, including Lahore. The system is being implemented in phases, with more drones being purchased for other districts in the second phase. In addition to drones, the Department of Environment has also introduced a vehicle called ‘Hawkeye’ in Lahore, which is equipped with a 360-degree rotating camera to monitor industrial areas.
Other Measures to Combat Smog
In addition to the drone monitoring system, the Department of Environment has taken other measures to combat smog in Punjab. These include the creation of an Environment Monitoring and Management Cell (EMMC), which is tasked with artificial rain management. The cell is headed by the secretary of the environment department and includes 11 members from different departments.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) is also playing a crucial role in combating smog in Punjab. The PDMA has developed a comprehensive plan to manage episodes of poor air quality, which includes standing instructions for the management of poor air quality episodes [[1]].
The Smog Commission
The Smog Commission, established by the Government of Punjab, is another key player in combating smog in the region. The commission has developed a clean air action plan, which includes measures to reduce pollution from industrial sources, vehicles, and other sources [[2]].
The Current Smog Situation
According to the International Air Quality Index, Lahore has been ranked first in the country in terms of pollution, with an air quality index of 164 [[3]]. The situation is expected to worsen in the coming weeks, with the dry season approaching. Chief Meteorologist Shahid Abbas has warned that smog will start from the end of September and will last till December.
Conclusion
Smog is a serious environmental issue in Punjab, Pakistan, with severe health implications for its citizens. The Department of Environment has taken a proactive approach to combating smog, introducing a drone monitoring system and other measures to monitor and control pollution. The Smog Commission and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority are also playing crucial roles in mitigating the effects of smog. It is essential for the citizens of Punjab to take precautions during smog episodes and for the government to continue to implement effective measures to reduce pollution and improve air quality.
References:
[[1]]The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). (n.d.). SR-Smog. Retrieved from
[[2]]Environment Protection Department, Government of Punjab. (n.d.). Smog Commission Reports. Retrieved from <https://epd.punjab.gov.pk/smogcommissionreports>
[[3]]BBC News. (2023, November 9). Toxic smog chokes Pakistan and shuts cities. Retrieved from
