LAHORE: The Punjab government on Friday approved a master action plan to deal with the danger of smog, and decided to strictly implement the Calamity Act to curb the environment hazard instead of imposing Section 144 in the province.

Chairing a meeting, Minister for Environment Protection and Parliamentary Affairs Muhammad Basharat Raja approved the plan at a meeting.

Addressing the meeting, he said the provincial government was taking concrete steps to deal with air and water pollution on the Punjab chief minister`s orders.

`As compared to the past, measures have been initiated since May this year to deal with the danger of smog,` said the minister.

He blamed the practice of burning of crops residues in Indian Punjab for `90 per cent of the smog in Pakistan`.`However, the intensity of smog can be reduced by taking measures at the local level,` he added.

The minister said there was a need to launch an awareness campaign for the public, especially among school students about the issue.

Emphasising the need to increase tree planting, he said that all relevant departments should take practical steps in this regard.

`Focus on the problem of air pollution throughout the year instead of just in this season,` he directed the of ficials.

On the occasion, the Environment Protection Department (EPD) secretary said special squads were impounding the vehicles emitting excessive smoke and heavy fines were also being imposed for violations. The minister directed that the documents of smoke-emitting vehicles should be seized and not be returned until the vehicle`s fitness was ensured.

He said burning crops residues and solid waste could not be allowed. `Alldeputy commissioners should task patwaris and village lumberdars with ensuring prevention of crop residues burning in their respective areas,` he said.

The minister called a video-link meeting of all commissioners and DCs next week and said that to discourage the crop residues burning, farmers should use straw cutters and happy seeder machines.

`Small farmers will be given loans through cooperative banks for purchase of straw cutters and happy seeders,` he announced.

He said that the cooperatives department should ensure that no housing society was established without getting NOC from the EPD. Every year, instead of mere symbolic planting, housing societies should practically work for planung trees and ensure survivalofthe plants.

The EPD secretary, while briefing the meeting, said no brick kiln would be allowed to function without zig-zag technology.

`Legal notices have been issued in this regard` he told the meeting.