Experts propose setting up 'national brick kiln mission'

A host of recommendations including environment-friendly vehicular system, cleaner cook-stoves and setting up of a national brick kiln mission were today proposed by experts for stemming black carbon emissions.
"India cannot delay the acceleration of move towards Euro VI vehicles and fuels (with 10-15 ppm sulphur fuels) as dieselisation of passenger vehicles and emissions from trucks and buses running on diesel have huge health implications.
"The western roadmap provides a learning curve to move faster to avoid public health impacts. With right policies and decisions, the transition to Euro V and VI is doable within 4 to 5 years timeline," the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) here said.

The recommendations were proposed after two days of deliberations by top national and international experts during the Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2015, organised by the CSE.
The experts noted that India needs to make adequate investments in refineries to produce clean fuels while there is also a need to "reinvent" mobility which would be a combination of public transport, creating space walking and cycling to help reduce growth of personal cars.
"India needs to set up a national brick kiln mission which is headed by Urban Development ministry and supported by many regional institutions. A clear policy on brick manufacturing industry is needed.

"The National Clean Energy Fund (around Rs 1,000 crores) should be used for upgrading the brick sector and to fund the Mission while new technology should be promoted and the brick-manufacturing industry supported in technology transfer," it said.

Director General, CSE, Snits Narain said three areas were chosen for discussion -- diesel, brick kilns and cookstoves -- as these are major sources of black carbon and are also responsible for ill-health and premature deaths in India.
"Our recommendations emanate from research, lessons drawn from national and international experience, and when implemented will result in major gains in terms of cleaner air and better health of our people as well reduced contribution to global warming," Narain said.

Elaborating about cookstoves, CSE said that India needs a combined "Clean Cooking Energy Initiative" which can be a part of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
"Incentives are needed at the user end rather than at the input end to encourage use of clean cookstoves. Association of Clean Cook Stoves Manufacturers need to be able to communicate with governmental and regulatory stakeholders," the CSE said.
It said that as solutions needed for different settings will vary, customisation of solutions is needed and these should be scaled up to reach near-saturation.