According to a study conducted on the pollution of the rivers worldwide by the University of York and National Academy of Sciences of the USA, river Ravi is one of the most polluted rivers in the world. The study shows that the river flowing through Punjab’s capital is polluted with active pharmaceutical ingredients that pose a threat to the environment and human health. The study placed Lahore, Bolivia and Ethiopia in the list of countries contributing the highest number of pollutants in rivers. The highest mean cumulative concentration was observed in Lahore at 70.8 µg/L, with one sampling site reaching a maximum cumulative concentration of 189 µg/L.
Environmentalists showed concern over the latest findings and claimed that the Ravi urban development project can pollute the river even more. Although Pakistan has several environmental regulations in place regarding industrial wastewater dumps, there is no on-ground implementation. A step towards implementing these regulations would help in reducing water pollution in one of the most important rivers of the region.
The Ravi Urban Development Project (RUDP) is one of the most important developmental projects of the incumbent government in Punjab. The government claims that it will be the first planned urban area in Pakistan after Islamabad. However, the recent findings on the Ravi River reveal that the mega project cannot afford to pollute the river, or it can have a huge environmental cost. A deep analysis of the environmental impact of the project is required at all levels to ensure that no further harm is done to the environment.
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