EPCA lifts brick-kilns ops ban, but not NGT

Strap: State pollution board officials seek clarity from HQs

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, February 19

The Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has lifted the ban on the operation of brick-kilns using zigzag technology though the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is yet to do so.

EPCA Chairman Bhure Lal has sent a communiqué in this respect to Additional Chief Secretary, Environment and Climate Change Department, Chairman and member secretary of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) to ensure compliance of his directives.

Since the NGT is yet to lift the ban on kiln operations, HSPCB’s local officers have sought clarity from the state headquarters about the further course of action.

“The EPCA has been advised by the Task Force on Graded Response Action Plan, which is chaired by the member-secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board, that the coming period is expected to be better in terms of air quality as there is forecast of strong winds and also temperatures are expected to rise… Only brick kilns, which have converted to zigzag technology will be allowed to operate in all NCR districts,” states the communiqué.

Jhajjar district has around 400 brick-kilns and most have converted to zigzag technology. Though the district administration claims to have executed the NGT’s ban on kilns effectively, many are operational in the district since February 1 as reported in these columns last week.

Deputy Commissioner Jitender Dahiya had five days ago tasked the SDM’s of Badli, Bahadurgarh, Beri and Jhajjar to monitor the kilns and to take action against those found operational.

HSPCB Regional Officer Krishan Kumar Yadav confirmed lifting of the ban by EPCA. “Since the NGT is higher authority than the EPCA hence we are still keeping the NGT’s direction of banning the brick-kilns executed. However, we have written to the state authority for getting clarification about relevance of the EPCA’s directive about lifting the ban,” he pointed out. Yadav informed closure action had recently been taken against four brick-kilns on being found operational.