BAHAWALPUR: The district administration has decided to close down all 307 brick kilns across the district for two months from Nov 1.

The decision has been taken in view of the looming threat of smog in the area.

According to District Officer (Environment) Muhammad Rafique, the administration in pursuance of the government’s instruction wanted to ensure that the brick kilns did not create any hindrance to keep the atmosphere clean.

He said that presently, there were 309 brick kilns in the district. Out of them only two had adopted the zigzag technology.

He said that last year, brick kiln owners had been directed to introduce zigzag technology in their kilns, but one each in Hasilpur and Uch Sharif none complied and were liable to face action.

Rafique said that besides shutting down the kilns the government would also launch a massive campaign with the District regional transport Authority secretary against the vehicles emitting smoke on inter-city routes.

Reacting to the district administration’s decision to close down the brick kilns, the owners announced a protest. Owners’ representative Malik Ghulam Muhammad told the media that last year they were granted relief by the court and if the administration banned the operations again, they would move the court to seek justice as the kilns were their only source of livelihood.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2019