NAROWAL: Farmers and kiln owners continue to flout smog SOPs day and night. Clouds of smoke rising from stubble burning in fields add to emissions from transport, industry and other urban sources.

The district administration of Sialkot seems to be failing in implementing the SOPs and proceeding against farmers and kilns. Reports from all tehsils of the district suggest widespread crop residue burning.

Brick kilns lacking zig-zag technology are also functioning, airing thick smoke.

Local residents Muhammad Adnan Abbasi and Ansar Mahmood said there was almost no physical presence of teams from the environment department and district administration in Jamke Cheema area.

Admin says action being taken

Mohammad Ibrahim and Naveed Aslam, residents of Pasrur, said farmers have set fire to remains of crops on Daska Road. They said motorists risk their lives due to poor visibility and face breathing issues while moving on Daska Road.

Farmer Muhammad Ashraf said they burnt stubble due to cost factor. He said private machine owners were charging up to Rs12,000 per acre for removing crop residue.He said since farmers could not rent machinery, the Punjab government should give them subsidy.

Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Zulqarnain Langrial told Dawn the district administration in collaboration with the environment, agriculture and industries departments is actively enforcing the Environmental Protection Act to curb pollution.

He said in a recent drive against illegal burning of crop residues, legal action was taken against three farmers. He said 411 farmers were served notices and fine amounting to Rs 405,000 was imposed.

He said 65 kilns have been sealed for violating environmental SOPs, lodged FIRs against 36 kilns and fined them Rs 2.4 million.

He said 45 industrial units have been served notices to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2024