Striking a balance between technology and environment

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 24

Over the years technology used in manufacturing bricks has been undergoing rapid change to reduce emissions.

Mukesh Nanda, a brick kiln owner, said since the commissioning of a kiln by his grandfather Tara Chand Nanda in 1967, the technology was changed by many times. His father Lajpat Rai Nanda, who had joined the kiln in 1979, replaced the two moveable chimneys with 65-feet high single fixed chimney in 1982. At the commencement of the kiln there used to be two pieces of metallic chimney with 30-feet high and both of these used to be moveable.

After joining the family business on January 15, 1987, he had replaced it with 85-feet high chimney and the next year the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had ordered installation of a 120-feet high chimney. Accordingly, its height was increased.

Subsequently, the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST) and IIT, Roorkee, had given a new design as per which there used to be a sapling chamber around the chimney. It enabled the heavy particles of smoke to form sediments in the chamber, which used to be cleaned after a month. This shift in technology brought out wonderful results as emission of SPM level decreased to 750 from over 2,000.

Now, as per the guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) he got his kiln fitted with induced high draft zig zag technology. With an investment of nearly Rs 50 lakh in which 10 lakh bricks were used the SPM level came down to 200 and colour of smoke billowing out of 120 feet chimney changed from black to grey. However, the transformation of the technology was not smooth as the number of workers increased from 12 to 16. Their salary also increased. At a kiln, staff was divided in three categories depending upon their monthly wages of Rs 11,000, Rs 12,000 and Rs 15,000. Their monthly emoluments were hiked to Rs 15,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000.

This technology also improved the quality of production and decreased the usage of fuel. Earlier, a lot of brick being produced consisted of 70 percent superior quality and 30 percent inferior. Now, the quantum of superior bricks increased to 80 percent in a lot. Similarly, the consumption of coal also decreased by 10 per cent.

After having shifted to new technology at his brick kiln in early 2019, Nanda said the kiln industry is looking at the advent of mechanical production of bricks from overseas. His kiln supply bricks to the markets of Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts.