Home / Environment / Punjab Launches Skimming Boat to Combat River Plastic
Punjab Launches Skimming Boat to Combat River Plastic
3 Jul
Summary
- Punjab EPA deployed a skimming boat for plastic waste removal.
- The pilot project begins in Lahore Canal to assess technology.
- Over 600,000kg of prohibited plastic confiscated last year.
Punjab's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has initiated a significant step in its fight against plastic pollution with the launch of its first skimming boat. This innovative vessel is designed to collect plastic waste directly from the province's canals and rivers. The boat will initially operate as a pilot project in the Lahore Canal, serving as a crucial technology-driven approach to mitigating water contamination.
Officials stated that the skimming boat, equipped with a waste collection bin, will be instrumental in clearing floating plastic debris. This pilot phase is intended to measure the technology's efficacy before considering its deployment across other waterways in Punjab. The launch coincided with Plastic Bag Free Day, marked by a seminar in Lahore attended by environmental experts and government officials.
During the seminar, achievements of the anti-plastic campaign were highlighted, including over 50,000 business owner pledges and the confiscation of more than 600,000kg of banned plastic. Fines totaling over Rs20 million were imposed on those violating regulations. The EPA reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating single-use plastic bags, employing technology-based monitoring systems to enhance enforcement and compliance efforts across the province.
