Deputy commissioner says EPA deputy director takes no satisfactory action against the identified polluters

With smog increasingly affecting parts of Punjab ahead of the peak winter season, the Deputy Commissioner Faisalabad expressed his displeasure

FAISALABAD : With smog increasingly affecting parts of Punjab ahead of the peak winter season, the Deputy Commissioner Faisalabad expressed his displeasure over the failure of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to take action against polluters.
The development came at a time when Punjab EPA has been claiming strict action against pollution causing factors and reporting improvements in air quality, while the deteriorating situation in several parts of the province continues to raise concerns about the effectiveness of its enforcement measures.

In a letter issued on October 26, Faisalabad DC sought an explanation from EPA Deputy Director Dr Tahir Abbas over delays in submitting official reports and slow progress in installing cameras at industrial boilers and chimneys.
The letter stated that during a review meeting held on October 22, it was observed that the officer had repeatedly failed to submit required reports within the prescribed deadlines despite reminders and verbal counselling conveyed through the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Enforcement).

It further stated that information about brick kilns and industrial units emitting black smoke had repeatedly been shared with the officer, but no satisfactory action had been taken against the identified polluters, nor had reports on the matter been submitted to the DC office.
The district administration also expressed concern over delays in installing cameras at industrial boilers and chimneys across the district, despite the availability of two assistant directors, 18 inspectors and supporting staff in the EPA.
The letter noted that the lack of coordination and response to official directions was affecting administrative monitoring, accountability and the timely redressal of environmental complaints.

The Deputy Director has been directed to submit a written explanation, supported by relevant facts and documentary evidence, within three days of receiving the notice. An unsatisfactory response could lead to a recommendation for administrative action against him to the competent authority.

Meanwhile, air quality across Punjab remained poor last week, with several cities recording hazardous pollution levels as winter smog intensified. On October 29, provincial capital Lahore recorded an AQI of 419 on the IQAir platform, while the Punjab government’s monitoring dashboard reported readings of 348 in Kasur, 324 in Lahore and 290 in Faisalabad. The situation deteriorated further on November 2, when Lahore’s AQI crossed 530 and Gujranwala recorded 606, while Faisalabad and Multan registered readings of 310 each on IQAir’s city ranking.

On the other hand, an EPA spokesperson said the agency had intensified its province-wide crackdown against agricultural fires, detecting 593 fire incidents and extinguishing 581 fires across Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Kasur, Sialkot, Sargodha and Gujranwala.
The intensified operation was being reinforced through specialised night-squad surveillance, satellite-based fire detection and an expanded Quick Response Unit mechanism to prevent agricultural burning and curb smoke emissions, the spokesperson added.