Punjab hukoomat ne smog aur hawa ki aloodgi par qaboo panay ke liye ek aur aham qadam uthate hue poori province mein wedding halls, banquet halls aur marquees ke liye suction hoods lagana lazmi qarar de diya hai. Yeh faisla shehri areas mein barhti hui smoke complaints aur winter season mein smog ki serious surat-e-haal ko dekhte hue kiya gaya hai.
Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ke mutabiq, yeh order foran naafiz ho chuka hai aur tamam event venues ko 31 January tak apni commercial kitchens aur live cooking areas mein proper exhaust systems install karna honge.
Why Wedding Venues Are Under Scrutiny
EPA ka kehna hai ke shaadi halls aur marquees mein hone wali high-intensity cooking, barbecue aur grilling se bohat zyada smoke aur grease-laden fumes nikalti hain. Yeh emissions sirf event hall tak mehdood nahi rehtin, balkay aas paas ke residential areas aur public health par bhi asar daalti hain.
Officials ke mutabiq, yeh smoke:
- Local air pollution ko barhata hai
- Smog ki intensity ko worsen karta hai
- Winter season mein breathing issues ka sabab banta hai
- Particulate matter aur harmful gases release karta hai
Isi liye hukoomat ne restaurants ke baad ab wedding venues ko bhi is regulation ke dairay mein laa diya hai.
What the New EPA Order Requires
Punjab EPA ke DG Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh ne wazeh kiya hai ke ab koi bhi wedding ya banquet venue bina suction hood ke operate nahi kar sakta. Order ke mutabiq, venue owners ko yeh steps follow karna honge:
- Har cooking unit ke upar properly designed suction hood lagana
- Exhaust systems ki regular maintenance ensure karna
- Smoke aur fumes ko bahar nikalnay ke liye effective ventilation provide karna
EPA ne yeh bhi kaha hai ke sirf lagana kaafi nahi, balkay system ka functional aur efficient hona bhi check kiya jayega.
Strict Action for Non-Compliance
Authorities ne clear warning di hai ke zero tolerance policy follow ki jayegi. Jo venues deadline tak comply nahi karein ge, un ke khilaf sakht action hoga.
Possible actions mein shamil hain:
- Wedding hall ya marquee ka immediate sealing
- Environmental laws ke tehat legal action
- Smog regulations ke mutabiq heavy fines
Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh ka kehna hai ke residential areas mein smoke release karna ab environmental crime samjha jayega aur kisi qisam ka pressure accept nahi kiya jayega.
Bigger Picture: Smog Control in Punjab
Yeh qadam Punjab hukoomat ki wider smog control strategy ka hissa hai. Is se pehle October mein commercial restaurants aur BBQ outlets ke liye bhi aisi hi hidayat jaari ki ja chuki hai. Ab shaadi halls ko shamil kar ke authorities ka maqsad hai ke winter season mein smog ke major sources ko control kiya ja sake.
Hukoomat ka kehna hai ke yeh measures sirf rules nahi, balkay public health aur clean environment ke liye zaroori hain.
Aakhir mein, wedding hall owners ke liye yeh clear signal hai ke regulations ko serious liya ja raha hai. Jo venues waqt par compliance karein ge, woh na sirf penalties se bach sakain ge balkay ek saaf aur sehatmand shehri mahaul mein apna role bhi ada karein ge.
