New technology to fight kilns pollution

LAHORE
FOR the first time in the history of Pakistan, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) Punjab has decided to introduce new technology being used in India to fight the air pollution caused by the brick-kilns. In this regard, a delegation is preparing to visit India very soon.
Air pollution caused by the brick kilns, especially those situated near the big cities as well as provincial capital, was always a cause of concern for residents, environmentalists and social activists who continued to criticise the EPD as well as Punjab government for not taking any concrete action against these kilns.
Recently, Dr Iqbal Muhammad Chauhan, Secretary EPD, Punjab held a meeting with the Brick Kiln Association as a result of which the association agreed to replace the old models of kilns across the province.
Secretary EPD Dr Iqbal, talking with the scribe, said the brick-kilns’ emission could be reduced by upgrading the technology and adopting affecting emission-control measures. He said the environmental friendly measures would also reduce the production cost of the kilns.
Environmentalists claimed that the brick-kiln produces COx, NOx, SOx Hydrocarbons and particulates (dust), which adversely affected the environment. They said release of toxic substances from brick-kilns adversely affected the people residing in the nearby areas. They said besides producing pollution, kilns also destroyed nearby lands, plantation, flora and fauna.
They said brick production could alter the landscape in ways that were harmful to environment. It can deplete the local resources of the fuel wood and also increase the deforestation and associated environmental impacts such as soil erosion, he said adding it could also create clay pits, which, if improperly managed, could become safety hazards. He said land used by kilns also accumulated rain water, which could become breeding ground for mosquitoes besides making the land unusable for farming.
Naseemur Rehman, a senior EPD official, said there were over 3,000 brick making units in the country with the majority (over 50%) were located in Punjab province. The industry appears to be growing at an annual rate of about 3% resulting in the setting up of numerous new factories, although for various reasons many factories are also going out of business. The total annual production has been estimated at over 11 billion bricks, he said adding over 800 kilns had production capacity of larger than six million brick per year.
The secretary environment said the brick industry was quite energy intensive and it had been estimated that when only wood was used, the cost of energy accountrf for about 43% of production costs. Besides coal and wood, other fuel types are also used including saw dust, fuel oil, rice husks, rubber tyres and other substandard fuel.
He said the brick kiln association had agreed to upgrade to cleaner and more fuel-efficient kilns such as VSBK models, which were already established in Vietnam and India. The EPD head revealed that two of such kilns were already established in Pakistan (one at Islamabad and other at Attock) by private persons.
The brick-kiln association also agreed to apply appropriate air pollution control technologies such as adding gravity-settling chambers to fixed chimney BTKs and would also follow the directions of the environmental tribunal given in a case No. 77/2010.
The tribunal directed the kilns to control the pollution by extending height of the chimney from 100 to 120 feet, top opening of the chimney must be in between 12-Sq.ft to 25.Sq.ft, cross Section area of the flue duct must be 4x4 feet having 150 to 180 feet length, rubber tyre and other substandard fuel must not be allowed, air for combustion and fuel feeding rate should be maintained.
Naseemur Rehman said the Brick Kiln Association had agreed to visit an Indian model brick kilns at Attock and Islamabad and later they would also visit India to see the related technologies and replicate the same here in Pakistan for the improvement of the environment.