LAHORE, Aug 19: The Environment Protection Department, Punjab, is evolving a comprehensive plan to clean the water of the Lahore Canal and the Ravi with the collaboration of other government departments.

This was stated by EPD secretary Kamran Lashari while talking to reporters here on Tuesday.

He said the EPD was working on the project of making the canal and the river pollution-free and for this purpose the water of those drains which fell into them would be treated. The residential colonies adjacent to the Ravi were also stopped from dumping waste in it, he added.

He said the EPD had introduced the Self Monitoring and Reporting Tools (SMART) programme in all major industries in the province for pollution assessment.

The department would help install water treatment plants in those industries which were generating waste in huge quantity.

He said the SMART was initiated keeping in view the implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) regime in 2005 under which no industry could export its products without being certified under ISO 14,000. Those industries which would have no water treatment plants would not be certified, he added.

Mr Lashari said the EPD would launch an environment awareness campaign throughout the province with the help of 40 listed NGOs and school students. The campaign against the smoke-emitting vehicles, however, would continue for indefinite period, he added.

He said the department would also constitute environment clubs in a number of private and public schools to create awareness about environment. Annual competition would be held among these schools and prizes would be given on the basis of the best recycling of the waste, proper disposal of waste water and tree plantation.

He said the department was also preparing about three dozen messages to create awareness among the masses which would be aired on the TV soon.