40 brick kilns raided by PPCB teams

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 19

Teams of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) today conducted raids on about 40 brick kilns in the district.

While the higher-ups in the Punjab Pollution Control Board maintain that no “major” violations were found, but highly placed sources informed that there are kilns using deadly carbon to run the bhattis, the fumes of which are fatal for human beings. Because the grinding tyre rubber is cheap as compared to coal, many kilns are playing with the lives of innocent labourers.

Gulshan Kumar, Chief Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board , said raids were conducted today and violations were found, like some were using wood powder, rice husk, etc, but no major violations were noticed.

Highly placed sources said there were kilns using carbon to bake the bricks. This carbon is too dangerous and it is learnt that regular exposure to the fumes emitted from burning of tyres could prove fatal.

There are about 270 brick kilns in the district and around 20 of them are using tyre rubbers for heating purposes in an unofficial manner.

Rahul Tiwari, Secretary, Science Technology and Environment, said he had assumed the charge today but he will get the details and strict action as per law will be taken against the defaulters.

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