Lahore:Environmental Protection Agency issues notices to 34 factories

[Naveed Yaseen]

LAHORE: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gave a 15-day deadline to about 34 manufacturing plants in the city to comply with their guidelines, Daily Times found on Saturday. EPA Director (North) Shahid Hassan told Daily Times that people from different localities in the city had complained to the EPA about several units and plants. He said that today (Saturday), he had called upon the representatives of the plants and after hearing their point of view had ordered the issuance of notices to all the factory owners. He also said that notices for personal hearings had been issued to the factories to address issues, which had been pointed out by complainants. He explained that under Section 16 (a) of the Pakistan Environment Protection Act (PEPA), 1997, plant owners had a 15-day deadline to comply. According to Section 16 (2) of the PEPA, 1997, after the EPA has issued notices and an opportunity to be heard is given to the offenders, and the omissions are still not brought within stipulated limits, in such a case the EPA has the right to immediately shut down all operations and seal the installation. abdul manan

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...008_pg7_32