LAHORE, July 2: On the orders of the Supreme Court, the environment protection, transport and traffic police departments will launch a ‘vigorous campaign’ against smoke-emitting vehicles in five major cities in the province from July 20.
The Supreme Court had taken suo motu action on environmental degradation in the country, especially in the Punjab, and directed all the provincial chief secretaries, police and environment departments to take necessary measures in this regard.
The decision to launch a campaign was finalized at a meeting presided over by Environment Minister Makhdoom Ashfaq here on Wednesday. Prominent among others were Transport Minister Shamshad Ahmad Khan, District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood, EPD Secretary Kamran Lashari, Transport Secretary Athar Tahir and SSP (traffic) Col Zaheerul Hassan.
Mobile squads had been formed to implement the campaign against the smoke-emitting vehicles. The squad comprises a traffic police inspector, EPD inspector and a motor vehicle examiner.
Four squads will be deployed in Lahore to examine the vehicles in Saddar, city, Model Town and Cantonment divisions. However, a squad each in Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi and Multan will monitor vehicles on the roads. EPD Deputy Director Nasimur Rahman will supervise the squads.
The campaign will be launched in three phases. In the first two weeks, the violators will be warned, booked in the second phase and in the last phase impounding and cancellation of motor vehicle fitness certificates will begin.
The participants also proposed a ban on the import and manufacturing of two-stroke engines throughout the province. They also proposed the provision of loans to the owners of the two-stroke vehicles to replace the engine with CNG kits after the ban.
EPD Secretary Kamran Lashari proposed that lead-free petrol and sulphur-free diesel should be obtained from refineries. He also suggested to devise a policy, which would force the multinationals to ply environment-friendly vehicles on the roads.
The Nazim told the officials that the city district government would launch a campaign against adulteration of petroleum products soon. He warned that strict action would be taken against the milkmen using chemical containers to carry milk.
The local government and EPD have not initiated any major campaign to control pollution in the province since 2001. The EPD had launched a two-year campaign against the smoke-emitting vehicles in 1999. It had booked over 150,000 motorists, most of them owning two-stroke engines, and impounded 10,000 vehicles. At least 50,000 pressure horns were removed from the public transports during the campaign.
When contacted, mobile squads head Nasimur Rahman said the squads in Lahore would inspect over 100 vehicles a day. Besides, these would visit different filling stations to make their owners aware of mixing of petrol with lubricant. He added that the government would also seek help of boy scouts and NGOs to make the campaign a success.
Ironically, neither the Punjab government nor the EPD have so far taken any practical steps to control the pollution. Around 70 per cent public and private vehicles in the city are reportedly emitting poisonous smoke and noise without any check.
During such previous campaigns, the government officials have failed to bring about any change in the behaviour of the drivers, who took the campaign a temporary initiative.
The relevant departments also lack scientific instruments to measure the exact level of pollution. The motor vehicle traffic fitness examiner has reportedly no modern equipment for the inspection of commercial vehicles. At present, few government centres have been functioning with a four-man staff. Each centre is supposed to inspect each vehicle twice a year before issuing a fitness certificate.
Most of the government vehicles are also improperly tuned, adding to the pollution. Some 200 local government’s waste collecting trucks also require proper tuning.
