Thursday, May 11, 2006javascript:; http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/print.asp?page=2006\05\11\story_11-5-2006_pg13_8
India’s thermal power plants causing fog in Lahore
By Maryam Hussain
ISLAMABAD: Thermal power plants located in India are thought to be one of the major causes of dense fog in Lahore and are causing a negative impact on the lives of the city’s residents.
The Punjab Planning and Development Department’s (P&D) technical appraisal report ‘Fog Aerosol Characterisation - source apportionment and impact study Lahore’ revealed this while researching for a multi-million rupees project.
The environmental study’s purpose was to identify reasons behind the fog in Lahore and its impact on human lives. The study has been sponsored by Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and will be taken up for approval in the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting here on Saturday and chaired by deputy chairman Ikram Sheikh.
In its comments over the proposed study, the P&D said, “The proponents have already identified various sources, causes and impacts of fog in a feasibility report based on an earlier study conducted by them during 1998-2004 which identified high sulphate concentration observed due to emission of fossil fuel in industries - especially in thermal power plants located in India.” It said that firstly an impact assessment of dense fog should be conducted and after that mitigation measures for human health, vegetation, hydrology and other biophysical entities be identified.
The P&D report said proposal also includes establishment of a mobile air pollution lab in Lahore at a cost of Rs 22 million. It said the Pakistan Environment Agency also intended to establish fixed and mobile air quality monitoring stations in Pakistan under an approved JICA funded project. The department proposed that SUPARCO should integrate their laboratory with the planned laboratories of Pak-EP instead of establishing a new lab.
P&D said alternatively they could procure the necessary equipments that were essentially needed for the purpose of study. It also pointed out that staff to be recruited in the study should be on a contract basis.
The department highlighted that certain items to be procured under fog study project were already being purchased by the ministry of environment as a part of JICA funding to set up a mobile air pollution laboratory in Lahore. It pointed out that it was not the mandate of SUPARCO to fund such studies for investigating foggy nebulas in Lahore.
P&D said the Global Change Impact Study Centre (GCISC) under the Ministry of Environment was undertaking collaborative joint studies with some national organisations to investigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture, water, air, health and biodiversity.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\05\11\story_11-5-2006_pg13_8
India’s thermal power plants causing fog in Lahore
By Maryam Hussain
ISLAMABAD: Thermal power plants located in India are thought to be one of the major causes of dense fog in Lahore and are causing a negative impact on the lives of the city’s residents.
The Punjab Planning and Development Department’s (P&D) technical appraisal report ‘Fog Aerosol Characterisation - source apportionment and impact study Lahore’ revealed this while researching for a multi-million rupees project.
The environmental study’s purpose was to identify reasons behind the fog in Lahore and its impact on human lives. The study has been sponsored by Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and will be taken up for approval in the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting here on Saturday and chaired by deputy chairman Ikram Sheikh.
In its comments over the proposed study, the P&D said, “The proponents have already identified various sources, causes and impacts of fog in a feasibility report based on an earlier study conducted by them during 1998-2004 which identified high sulphate concentration observed due to emission of fossil fuel in industries - especially in thermal power plants located in India.” It said that firstly an impact assessment of dense fog should be conducted and after that mitigation measures for human health, vegetation, hydrology and other biophysical entities be identified.
The P&D report said proposal also includes establishment of a mobile air pollution lab in Lahore at a cost of Rs 22 million. It said the Pakistan Environment Agency also intended to establish fixed and mobile air quality monitoring stations in Pakistan under an approved JICA funded project. The department proposed that SUPARCO should integrate their laboratory with the planned laboratories of Pak-EP instead of establishing a new lab.
P&D said alternatively they could procure the necessary equipments that were essentially needed for the purpose of study. It also pointed out that staff to be recruited in the study should be on a contract basis.
The department highlighted that certain items to be procured under fog study project were already being purchased by the ministry of environment as a part of JICA funding to set up a mobile air pollution laboratory in Lahore. It pointed out that it was not the mandate of SUPARCO to fund such studies for investigating foggy nebulas in Lahore.
P&D said the Global Change Impact Study Centre (GCISC) under the Ministry of Environment was undertaking collaborative joint studies with some national organisations to investigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture, water, air, health and biodiversity.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\05\11\story_11-5-2006_pg13_8
