PPCB must take punitive action

Open House: How can the rising pollution in city be contained?

Ensure compliance of pollution norms

Though the average air quality index (AQI) of the city lies in the moderate range, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (PPCB) data, it is causing breathing problems to people like asthma and heart diseases. The maximum AQI of the city often crosses the dangerous mark of 300. No wonder, our country ranks first in the world in pollution-related deaths. The prominent pollutant in the city is PM 2.5, which is released from vehicles and industrial units. The pollution control body should urge people to use public transport and cleaner fuels such as CNG, retrofit the public transport vehicles, prohibit vehicles which are more than 15-year-old, prohibit use of diesel generators, plant trees, install dust collectors, air-purifiers and smoke detectors in the industrial areas and opt for taller and zigzag technology for chimneys. It should also ensure compliance of effluent treatment rules. If the problem still persists, the odd-even scheme should be implemented in the city. If the issue is not addressed, toxic air will continue to fill our lungs.

Simran Sidhu

Do random checks of industrial units

Some of the major sources of air pollution are vehicles, industrial units, brick kilns and soap manufacturing units. The working of the PPCB, a body meant to check the functioning of polluting units is far from satisfactory. As a result, pollution has reached an alarming levels. People are being forced to inhale polluted air, resulting in various breathing problems. The authorities concerned should carry out random checks of these units to ensure that these do not exceed the permissible pollution level. Agencies issuing pollution certificates should not treat the certificates as a mere formality but they should issue these after a thorough verification of the industrial units and vehicles. Recently, a case of some soap manufacturing units in the city brazenly violating the pollution norms was highlighted in the papers. The authorities acted only after the news. Besides imposing fine, production by such units should also be banned for a certain time. The public should help the authorities in containing air pollution. If anybody is found polluting the atmosphere, the authorities must be informed. We have to understand that we must maintain a healthy environment to lead a happy and healthy life.

Pursharth Joshi

PPCB ought to take stringent measures

The PPCB was setup by the Punjab Government to ensure that the pollution is within the permitted limits in the state. But the authorities concerned have miserably failed to discharge their duty. The PPCB has become a toothless entity. One fails to understand why stringent measures are not being taken by the board to check the rising levels of pollution in the state. It is a matter of concern that laws are not respected or enforced in our country. Industrial units are mainly concerned about their production and are unmindful of the pollution they cause. Vehicles and brick kilns are polluting the environment with impunity. Though every industrial unit is mandated to have a pollution certificate, the rule has been reduced to a mere formality. No effective pollution check-up of vehicles, industrial units and brick kilns is regularly carried out by the authorities concerned. The public is the worst sufferer. In cities such as Ludhiana and Batala which house major industrial units, people find it difficult even to breathe. So, in the interest of public health, the authorities must discharge their duties effectively.

NK Gosain

Penalise owners of polluting vehicles

CVehicles cause noise and air pollution. There is no check on vehicles emitting smoke beyond the permissible limits. People should inform the authorities of polluting vehicles and the name of the informer must be kept secret. The authorities must penalise owners of such vehicles. Some people use modified vehicles without number plates, especially those who sell sugarcane juice. These illegal vehicles pollute the air and must be challaned. Acting on a report carried in The Tribune, the PPCB has issued notice to 41 industrial units in the city for violating pollution norms. The authorities must also act proactively.

KK Mittal

QUESTION

The traffic police have recently issued challans to 15 schools buses/vans of a private school for violating traffic norms. Do you think the school authorities and the district administration are doing enough to ensure safety of children travelling in school vans/ buses in the district?

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