Leh turns into toxic smoke belt

Burning old tyres and plastic is producing thick, black and foul-smelling smoke, which is spreading across the surrounding areas and residential neighbourhoods.Residents of Dhoke Ratta, Bhodha Godam, Ratta Amral, Hazara Colony, Fauji Colony, Dhoke Hassu, Dhoke Mangtal and Pirwadhai have complained of respiratory and other health problems, including coughing, eye irritation and ailments affecting the nose, throat and stomach.Residents say tyres, plastic and other scrap, as well as household waste,….

They claimed they were unable to prevent influential individuals from carrying out the practice.Residents of Dhoke Ratta have urged the district administration to take immediate notice of the situation and stop the burning of tyres, plastic and scrap along Nullah Leh.Citizens Waqar Shah, Fayyaz Akbar and Nadeem Akhtar said the burning of tyres, plastic and waste was prohibited and that the smog season had already begun.

They called on the Environmental Protection Department to immediately halt the practice.They said brick kilns, factories and smoke-emitting vehicles were further contributing to air pollution in Rawalpindi, while the city's air quality index had also crossed 100.The residents said the government had already imposed a complete ban on burning old tyres to extract black oil and demanded action against those burning tyres and waste plastic.They added that burning unusable tyres,….

They urged the authorities to conduct regular inspections of workshops, scrap yards and tyre shops along the waterway and take action against those found violating environmental regulations.They also called for the waste and burnt tyre residue dumped along Nullah Leh to be removed immediately, warning that the material could block the watercourse and worsen flooding during heavy rains.

The residents demanded coordinated action by the district administration, Environmental Protection Department and local authorities to ensure a permanent end to open burning in the area.?