12 brick kilns found violating PPCB orders in Gurdaspur
GURDASPUR: Over 12 brick kilns in Gurdaspur district are functioning in violation of Punjab Pollution Control Board orders of restricting the kiln operations in Punjab from October 1 to January 31,2019.
Meanwhile,the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has also ordered that the brick kilns can start operating only after installing the new technology to keep a check on air pollution.
The PPCB’s letter dated 09-042018 states,“The brick kiln owners have to implement the new technology by 31 January 2019 otherwise they can’t start operations as per the mandate of the order dated 24 October 2018 passed by NGT.”
The PPCB via its order dated 09 April 2018 observed that owing to the worsening air quality index during the time period from October to December in the state, the brick kilns will restrict firing from February 1 to September 30.
The PPCB noted that there are about 3,000 brick kilns and the total pollution load causes deterioration mostly during winters.
Many of the brick kiln owners in Gurdaspur district have started the process of implementing the new technology incurring an expenditure of around ₹50 lakh each.
Gurdaspur executive engineer,PPCB, Ravinder Bhatti said, “Recently, the local PPCB team had raided few kilns in Gurdaspur and found 12 of them functioning during the banned period. A report regarding the same has been sent to the head officials recommending severe action against the brick kiln owners in question including cancellation of their licenses.”
There are a total of about 150 brick kilns operating in Gurdaspur district and only 12 of them are operative in Gurdaspur,Kalanaur and Dinanagar areas with traditional chimneys,that cause air pollution.
On the condition of anonymity, one of the brick kiln owners said, “These 12 brick kilns have been operating even during the banned period in connivance with the authorities.”
Gurdaspur sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Sakattar Singh Bal said, the matter was not in his notice. “I will direct the nodal officer-cum-district food and supplies controller to ensure that NGT directions are not violated.”