CSE welcomes MoEFCC’s new notification on brick kilns

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) came up with stringent standards for brick kilns after seven years of deliberation via a notification dated February 22, 2022.

Brick kilns have been identified as a major source of pollution in many non-attainment cities, that do not fulfil MoEF&CC’s stipulated air quality requirements.

The notification has paved the way to reduce air pollution from brick kilns, according to Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). 

What it says

It all started in October 2015 when the MoEF&CC came out with a draft notification proposing different particulate matter (PM) emission standards for natural draught and induced draught kilns.

CSE opposed the draft. It stated that state pollution control boards (SPCB) would not be able to monitor all 70-80,000 operational brick kilns in the countryon a regular basis, due to lack of personnel.

CSE thus pushed for technological change so that emissions would inherently be less. MoEF&CC, in its current notification, has mandated allowing brick kilns only with zig-zag technology or vertical shaft or use of piped natural gas (PNG) as fuel in the brick-making process.

The introduction of PNG as a fuel is a welcome step since its use in older technology like Fixed Chimney Bull’s Trench Kiln (FCBTK) will automatically reduce the PM emissions. Other salient features of the notification are:

• Standard for PM emissions — 250 milligram per normal cubic metre (mg / Nm3) 
• Existing brick kilns shall be converted to either zig-zag technology or vertical shaft or use of PNG as fuel in brick making within a period of one year in case of kilns located within a 10 km radius of non-attainment cities and two years for other areas
• All brick kilns shall use approved fuel such as PNG, coal, fire wood and / or agricultural residues. Use of pet coke, tyres, plastic, hazardous waste shall not be allowed in brick kilns
• Brick kilns shall construct permanent facility for port hole and platform according to the norms laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
•  Brick kilns shall follow fugitive dust emission control guidelines as prescribed by concerned SPCBs
• The brick kiln owners shall ensure that the roads utilised for transporting raw material or bricks are paved

A 7-year battle 

October 2015: MoEF&CC introduces a draft notification for the brick sector, proposing to bring down emissions standards from 750 mg / Nm3 to 500 mg / Nm3 for natural draft kilns and to 250 mg / Nm3 for induced draft kilns.

December 2015: CPCB directs all brick kilns in Delhi and the National Capital Region to convert from natural draught to induced draught within 90 days. The direction, however, does not clarify on the changes required in brick setting.

August 2016: MoEF&CC comes up with a modified draft notification, proposing a fixed standard for PM at 250 mg/Nm³ for all brick kilns.

November 2016: CPCB, via a new order, clarifies the definition of induced draught kilns (with rectangular kiln shape and zigzag brick setting).

May 2017: EPCA orders all kilns in Delhi-NCR to shift to rectangular zigzag, with an option to choose between natural or induced draught.

June 2017: CPCB orders all brick kilns across India to convert to zigzag setting, with rectangular kiln shape.

March 2018: MoEF&CC again comes up with a draft notification keeping PM emission standard at 250 mg/Nm3 and gives one year for conversion to zigzag for kilns located near non-attainment cities and two years for other kilns.

2019: CPCB writes to MoEF&CC, advocating that FCBTKs with agricultural waste be allowed to operate. The step is taken after brick kiln entrepreneurs using agricultural fuel in FCBTKs claim that PM emissions from their kilns are lower than the emissions from kilns with zigzag technology.

2019: CSE conducts independent stack monitoring of brick kilns across northern India. The study finds that the emissions from all types of FCBTKs are higher than all types of zigzag brick kilns that were monitored.

Brick kilns were last made to change their technology way back in 1996 when the then Ministry of Environment and Forests had asked them to shift from highly polluting moving chimney kilns (MCBTKs) to FCBTKs.

Since then, no other initiative has been taken to improve their environmental performance. Tyres, plastics and hazardous waste were being used as fuel in brick kilns.

Petcoke, which has a high sulphur content, was also used without any control measures. CSE has been working with MoEF&CC since 2015 to rein in the highly polluting sector, not only to reduce air pollution but also improve efficiency and reduce coal consumption.   

It is a welcome step from MoEFCC to reign in uncomplying brick kilns through technology roadmaps or cleaner fuel options. Fugitive emissions are another grey area which need to be controlled through state-specific guidelines for the sector, Nivit Kumar Yadav, director, industrial pollution, CSE, said.

However, the disappointing factor is that here is no mention of unconventional and polluting clamp type kilns which are prevalent from western to southern India, he added.