HAFIZABAD City News

12 kilns polluting Hafizabad city
From Syed Muhammad Zamir
HAFIZABAD: Over 40,000 people of eastern part of Hafizabad are facing various health and other problems, as 12 brick-kilns have been set up in the populated area of the city by influential persons during the past some years.
The areas worst affected by these brick-kilns include Mohallah Sherpura, Misri Khan and Qazipura due to smoke and poisonous gases. Colour of drinking water in the localities has changed and many diseases like asthma, eyesore, and different kinds of hepatitis are increasing among the population day by day.
Dozens of donkey-carts and tractor-trolleys loaded with bricks could be seen on roads throughout the day and many untoward incidents and accidents have occurred so far. Due to this, prices of real estate have gone down and many people have sold out their houses.
Khaksar Tehreek Amir Maulana Muhammad Siddique Salar and dozens of other notables of these localities told The News they have given written applications to high-ups of provincial government for shifting of these brick-kilns outside the city, but to no avail. They demanded of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Gujranwala commissioner and other government authorities concerned to order shifting of these brick-kilns out of the city.
Owners of the brick-kilns told The News when they set up their business over 15-20 years ago there were not populated areas there. They said they have spent a lot of money for establishing their businesses and now they could not shift their brick-kilns out of the city.
District environment officer Naseem Ahmad Sabri said owners of the brick-kilns have been challaned many times for causing pollution. These challans have been sent to courts and Environment Protection Agency. However, there is no government authority to shift the brick-kilns.
DCO M Usman said there were total 80 brick-kilns in the district. The administration has sent notices to 34 owners of the brick-kilns, which are causing pollution. Heavy fines have also been imposed by the courts on 12 owners, he added. He admitted that many brick-kilns had been working on their respective locations for the last 30 to 40 years when there were no populated areas there. He promised that the district administration would utilise all its powers and resources for shifting of the brick-kilns from the populated areas.