LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) directed the provincial authorities to impose a smog emergency in Punjab ahead of winter season.
The court directed the Punjab chief secretary to hold a meeting by Saturday and take steps for imposing the smog emergency in the province.
The court also ordered to immediately close the smoke-emitting factories, besides action against persons involved in burning the crops.
The court further ordered authorities to form teams and provide vehicles to them for taking action against responsible, besides ordering to purchase air quality sensors within two weeks.
Justice Shahid Karim passed the orders while hearing a petition filed by a citizen, Farooq, seeking directions for the government to take steps for controlling the smog in the province.
Earlier, during the proceedings, a provincial law officer submitted that the provincial authorities had launched a campaign to disseminate messages about the measures to prevent smog.
A counsel for the Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) apprised the court that the level of underground water had started to rise as a result of steps taken for the purpose. He submitted that new projects would be launched to use water available on the surface.
WASA Managing Director Muhammad Ghufran apprised the court that water metering project would be launched from February in Lahore to save the water. He further submitted that the authority had stopped the use of about 400 unnecessary vehicles due to emitting extra smoke, adding that measures were being taken to switch WASA offices to solar energy.
However, the court observed that Lahore had become the most polluted city while criticising the performance of the authorities.
Subsequently, the court directed the provincial authorities to impose a smog emergency in the province and adjourned further proceedings till October 14. The court also sought an implementation report on the next date of hearing.
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