There is no way of knowing about the quality of what their catch. The option before the government is clear. If matters are allowed to go on like this, Ravi might soon become a large sewer. Regular pronouncements of good intentions on this issue aside, the fact is that in the last budget a mere Rs 15 million was set aside for the environment protection department. The agencies that are supposed to lead the pollution control effort either do not have the required staff or the equipment necessary to monitor contamination levels.
Environment protection needs a shot in the arm as much as any other areas of priority.
It is time that the government, with all the input from NGOs at its disposal, formulated a comprehensive policy on combating pollution. Setting up environment tribunals is a good step but cannot be of much help when other relevant agencies, such as the Lahore municipal corporation, are not prevented from dumping their waste in Ravi, or when the environment protection department remains handicapped for want of funds, equipment and trained professionals.