Agriculture related matters contributing 20% to smog factor
66% Basmati rice and 61% non-Basmati rice areas are burnt in 11 districts of Punjab
Pak Chronicle Report
Islamabad
Agriculture residue burning practices contributing 20 percent to smog formation in winter season and as on an average 66 percent of crop area of Basmati rice and 61 percent on Non-Basmati rice is burnt in 11 rice growing district of Punjab.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations conducted a community based survey with the collaboration of Punjab Agriculture Department to understand the crop residue burning practices of farmers in Punjab.
Focus group discussions were organized in 11 rice growing districts namely Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Kasur, Lahore, MandiBahauddin, Nankana Sahib, Narowal, Sheikhupura, and Sialkot.
The results indicated that on an average of 66% of crop area of Basmati rice and 61 % of the Non-Basmati rice is burnt. The findings of the focus group discussions helped understand the trends in residue burning practices.
The revelation into this effect were made in the Lower House of the Parliament on Friday by the Ministry of Climate Change in the question hour on the query of MNA Naureen Farooq Ibrahim.
The lawmaker had inquired whether any survey has been conducted to deal with smog in winter season; if so, the results thereof; besides mentioning the strategy evolved by the government and orders given in this regard.
Replying to this query it was stated by State Minister for Climate Change, Zartaj Gul that in Pakistan, the problem of smog has been increasing in intensity especially in the province of Punjab. In the most recent years it has spread to a broader swath of the country. The FAO of the United Nations has conducted a study in 2018 on assessment of relative contribution of various factors contributing to the formation of smog.
Global Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC), a research arm of Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) has also contributed to it by providing simulation and modeling based input on sources of air pollutants and their transport.
Further, relative contribution of air pollutant emissions from transport sector (with a share of 43%), industry (25%), agriculture (20%), and power (12%) has also been evaluated by GCISC. In the said study, FAO has also conducted a community based survey with the collaboration of Punjab Agriculture Department to understand the crop residue burning practices of farmers in Punjab. Focus group discussions were organized in 11 rice growing districts namely Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Kasur, Lahore, MandiBahauddin, Nankana Sahib, Narowal, Sheikhupura, and Sialkot. The results indicated that on an average of 66% of crop area of Basmati rice and 61 % of the Non-Basmati rice is burnt. The findings of the focus group discussions helped understand the trends in residue burning practices. The extract from relevant portion of the report is annexed for survey results and further details. (b) Ministry of Climate Change under its mandate has undertaken following initiatives to address SMOG issue:
Zig-Zag technology in coordination with all EPAs, NEECA and Pakistan Brick Kiln Association. Zig-Zag kiln technology aims to enhance fuel efficiency, energy savings and reduction in emissions up to 70%.
The Ministry in collaboration with NEECA organized on-site awareness cum training sessions in various cities of Pakistan. In Punjab, more than 1000 Kiln owners and people associated with brick kiln sector participated in the training sessions.
Ten Billion Tree Tsunami initiatives have been inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan on 2nd September 2018. The model of billion tree tsunami implemented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be replicated to plant ten (10) billion tree saplings across the country which will mitigate the effects of air pollution.
National Environmental Quality Standards for ambient air quality (notified). ® Reduction of sulphur in diesel which is now Euro II compliant (0.05%).
Establishment of continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations in federal and provincial capital cities.
Under the Prime Minister directives, Petroleum Division is in the process of introducing Euro-VI compliant fuel in the country. However, the Ministry of Climate Change has requested the division to consider import of Euro-VI compliant diesel immediately given the high cost being paid by the consumer suffering from SMOG issues, where vehicular emission is major sources of air pollution.
On the directives of Supreme Court dated 18/10/2018, Pakistan Environmental Commission on Air and Water Pollution was established under the chairmanship of Dr Parvez Hassan, the Environmental Commissioner. Secretary Ministry of Climate Change, Islamabad, Secretaries of Departments of Environment, Punjab, KPK, Sindh and Balochistan are the members of the commission.
With regard to air pollution and SMOG issues in Punjab, the commission, inter-alia decided that all conventional brick kilns shall he converted to the new environment friendly and energy efficient Zig-Zag technology, the parliamentarians were informed.
Ends
