Steel and marble factories in the industrial areas 1-9, have led to a rise in smog and air pollution in the twin cities. Dozens of such factories have been set up in both cities. These factories pump toxic fumes in the atmosphere, and have led to a general rise in air pollution in the region. Residents of areas near these factories have frequently reported incidents of chest congestion and asthma. According to doctors, these are directly linked to air pollution. Marble factories are a cause of noise pollution as well.
These factories dump waste in natural streams near by and none of these factories follow environmental or labour laws, said Aslam Tahir, a worker. Aslam said most workers had developed chest diseases, as they had to inhale dust frequently, and factory owners had not adopted safety precautions. “We have been living in toxic hell but the CDA has been indifferent to the plight of citizens who have to breathe in fumes day in and day out,” said Mr Naveed Ahsan, a resident of Sector I-9.
A CDA official said the authority had been pressing industrialists, especially owners of steel and marble factories, to use treatment plants to filter hazardous smoke emissions. The official agreed that residents living near the industrial area had been suffering because of air pollution, and were more prone to respiratory diseases.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. What should be done is taking concrete steps to lower or completely eradicate air pollution.
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