Ban revoked on fresh licences for brick kilns
Brick kilns based on newer technology emit less pollution. The new brick kilns also require to follow a few stringent environmental norms to get the clearance
ASHOK GHOSH,
BSPCB chairman
PATNA: The Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) has resumed the process of granting operational licences to brick kilns, provided they are built to be fuel-efficient and quipped with pollution curbing technology, its chairman Ashok Ghosh said.
“The ban on issuance of operating licences to red brick kilns has been revoked as bricks made of fly ash were unable to cater to the market demands. Also, brick kilns based on newer technology emit less pollution. The new brick kilns also require to follow a few stringent environmental norms to get the clearance,” he said.
The BSPCB had suspended issuance of licences since May this year in an apparent bid to encourage use of bricks made of fly ash. “We decided to offer licences to new brick kilns after we found that fly ash disposed by thermal power plants were simply unable to meet the growing requirement of the construction,” said an official.
Ghosh said the state has around 6,500 brick kilns, of which 4,000 have been converted into zigzag technology, which ensures optimum utilisation of coal energy and goodquality earthen bricks.
“The brick kilns shall not be allowed to operate within 800 metres of distance from a hospital, hamlet of more than 200 population, schools and gardens with at least 25 trees. Besides, no brick kiln will be given licence to function if they are located within 500 metre from the rivers, wetlands, water bodies, etc,” said the official.
Owing to strict regulations on brick kilns, the retail prices of red bricks hovered in the range of ₹15,000-20,000 per tractor trolley, which comes with around 1,500 pieces each.