Building material transport to have specific design

LAHORE: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued specific designs for tractor trollies and three-wheelers for carrying sand, mud, clay and other construction materials across the Punjab.

EPA DG Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh, in a recent order issued to all deputy commissioners, said that in exercise of the powers conferred upon him under Section 6 (1) (t) of the Punjab Environmental Protection Act 1997, no commercial trolley shall be permitted to transport sand, clay and other construction material until it meets the specifications issued by the EPA. This Act also empowered him to take all necessary measure for the protection, conservation, rehabilitation and improvement of the environment, prevention and control of pollution and promotion of sustainable development.

He said the order shall come into force with effect from October 15, 2024 in the whole province and any contravention to this order shall be punished U/S 188 PPC. He said transportation of uncovered and unmanaged sand, clay and other construction material through the commercial trolleys and all other kinds of vehicles is one of the major sources of ‘fugitive dust; which contributes in air pollution and subsequent formation of smog.

EPA DG said that it was extremely necessary to control the dropping of sand, clay and other construction material during its transportation through the trolleys or any other kind of vehicle for management of air pollution and prevention of formation of smog.

He added that as per Section 2 (xxxiii) of The Punjab Environmental Protection Act 1997, pollution means the contamination of air, land or water by the discharge or emission of effluents or wastes or air pollutants or noise or other matter which either directly or indirectly make the air, land or water unclean, noxious or impure or injurious, disagreeable or detrimental to the health, safety, welfare or property of persons or harmful to biodiversity.

In his orders, he directed that the upper surface of sand, clay and construction material should be covered with wooden planks or tin/fiber sheet and then it should be covered with thick fabric sheet (tarpaulin etc) while the piling of sand, clay and other construction material exceeding the specified height of side boards shall not be allowed.

“Any other kind of vehicle used for the transportation of sand, clay and construction material shall not be allowed to do overloading and shall also ensure all the mitigation measures to control the sand, clay and construction material scattering while being transported,” he directed. He said before entering urban limits of a tehsil, trolleys and any other kind of vehicle used for transportation of sand, clay and other construction material must have their tyres and sideboards cleaned.