HC refuses to stay govt order on brick kilns in Punjab

GOVT ASKED KILN OWNERS TO SHIFT TO INDUCED DRAFT TECHNOLOGY BY SEPT 30, BEYOND WHICH THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday refused to stay Punjab government orders to brick-kiln owners who had failed to transition to the newly mandated emissions technology.

The government had asked all the kilns to shift to induced draft technology by September 30, beyond which no conventional brick kiln would be allowed to operate.

A section of brick-kiln owners had approached the court against the state government’s orders. Brick-kiln operators using agricultural residue as fuel be exempted from the various orders of the state government, they had argued stating that they were in the process of conversion to the new technology, which was taking time due to lack of trained person available for converting these kilns.

The Punjab government had argued that these orders were in compliance with the guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board, various circulars of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, as well as orders passed by the National Green Tribunal in January 2019.

As per the state government’s orders, brick kilns found continuing to operate without converting to the new technology will be required to pay compensation on the ‘polluter pays’ principle, amounting to Rs 25,000 per month for a kiln with a capacity of more than 30,000 bricks per day and Rs 20,000 per month for kiln with the capacity of less than 30,000 bricks per day.

The bench of acting chief justice Rajiv Sharma and justice HS Sidhu refused to grant any relief to them and posted the matter for hearing on November 15, as Central government sought more time to respond on the issue.