The Punjab government has implemented emergency action plan for management of air quality during the smog season.
The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency has issued advisories to relevant departments to check deterioration in ambient air quality. It has taken the step to safeguard public health during the winter season.
The Air Quality has started deteriorating due to temperature inversion, wind speed, wind direction, dryness. Emissions from vehicles and industries and dust from under-construction sites. This warrants an urgent response from all relevant government departments to curtail this trend of rising AQI.
Punjab EPA Director General Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh has issued an advisory to the government departments. The advisory highlighted the need to take immediate actions for public safety too cater for these episodes of the higher air pollution levels in winter.
Directions:
It directed Traffic Police and District Regional Transport Authorities to impound excessive smoke-emitting and without Vehicle Inspection and Certification System (VICS) certified vehicles. Actively regulate and shift traffic peak hours to manage congestion at identified hotspots.
The EPA issued directions to Metropolitan and Municipal Corporations to ensure water sprinkling at least twice a day along main roads. Construction sites and highly dust-prone areas to control fugitive dust generation. Take strict and immediate action against violators of municipal laws, particularly those involved in trash/municipal waste burning.
It directed the Education Department to sensitize students and parents to adopt protective measures. It called for mandatory use of face masks for outdoor activities.
The EPA directed the Development Authorities to ensure all approved construction sites strictly implement environmental conditions to minimize dust and gaseous emissions.
For Agriculture Department: Implement zero-tolerance for crop-residue burning incidents. “Deploy surveillance teams for prevention. Coordinate with local administration for immediate reporting and action against violators.”
For Mines and Minerals Department: Take strict action against transportation of construction material (sand and soil). Sludge (desilted material) or demolished material (debris) on uncovered/overloaded vehicles.
