Over 68% kilns converted to zigzag design
JWEC report reveals Rs1b recovered under aquifer charges
65 children were also rescued from the kiln houses. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
The Judicial Water and Environmental Commission’s (JWEC) report revealed a collection of over Rs1 billion by bringing different sectors into the net of aquifer charges and conversion of 68.02% brick kilns to latest zigzag technology across the province.
Advocate Syed Kamal Ali Haider submitted a report before Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Justice Shahid Karim on behalf of JWEC chairman Justice (retd) Ali Akbar Qureshi. Justice Karim was hearing different petitions on how smog could be controlled, how society could be made pollution-free and how groundwater could be protected from wastage. Following the court’s directives, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been successful in the conversion of brick kilns from old technology to zigzag technology and the conversion has reached 68.02% which is equal to 5,537 out of total 8,140 brick kilns across Punjab. On Anti-Smog campaign, the report added that actions were taken against smoke emitting industries.