Brick kilns operating without zig-zag technology shut down

The Haryana government has closed down brick kilns in the National Capital Region (NCR) which have not adopted the eco-friendly zig-zag technology, a senior official saidtoday.
The operators of the kilns had been asked to adopt the technology by September 30, failing which they were closed down from October 1, an official release said here.
The kilns have been closed by the Haryana Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department and will not operate till the winter season is over, state Additional Chief Secretary for Environment Dheera Khandelwal said.
Deputy commissioners of districts falling in the NCR have been asked to send a compliance report and ensure that unauthorised brick-kilns have been closed, the release said.

She said the environment department and the state pollution control board have taken concrete steps to prevent and control air pollution in the NCR to avoid the adverse situations experienced last winter.
The central government had also notified a 'Grade Response Action Plan' to combat air pollution.

The Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) had stated that brick kilns in the NCR districts which did not meet its standards and those of the Central Pollution Control Board would be closed from October 1 till the winter season is over.
The release said a meeting had been held asking kiln operators to shift to the zig-zag technology which helps bring down carbon emissions.

Officials have been asked to suspend the consent issued under the Air Act, 1981, to brick kiln units (BKUs) which failed to covert to zig-zag technology by September 30 and to close down their operations during winter period till March 15, 2018, Khandelwal said.