20000210

Action plan

against pollution

prepared

SIALKOT: The federal government has prepared an action plan for combating the excessive threats of pollution caused by the tanneries and other industries in the country.

Informed sources told APP here on Wednesday that the step is being taken on minimising and reducing the pollution load caused by the tanneries and other industries in different industrial towns of the country.

In Sialkot under the plan an "Industrial Zone for Tanneries" would be established in near future. Under the programme cleaner production technology would be introduced in existing tanneries for low waste and no waste. Adequate efforts would be made for introducing a new technology of low waste and no waste in the tanneries. Besides, special steps would also be taken for imparting the training and educating the tanneries owners about the low waste and no waste technology.

The introduction of cleaner production technology in tanneries would be helpful in improving the quality of leather on the basis of low waste and now waste.

In future the establishment of new tanneries in populated urban and rural areas would be discouraged and for this purpose Wapda will also be asked that no new connection without obtaining no objection certificate (NoC) from the concerned authorities and district management should sanctioned.

The purpose behind the plan is to avert the threats of environmental pollution caused by the ill-planned tanneries and other industries in various parts of the country. At present the affluent of tanneries functioning in and close to Sialkot are creating serious threats to the fertility of agricultural land and marine life.

Similarly, environmental pollution is also threatening to the human life keeping in view the gravity of problem the residents of the areas where tanneries are migrating to safer places.

Sources claimed that the introduction of cleaner production technology will be helpful in minimising the pollution to ensure pollution free atmosphere for the inhabitants.ÑAPP