LAHORE: Punjab Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has planned to upgrade brick kilns’ technology to minimize air pollution caused by brick kilns.
The decision was taken in a meeting held under EPD Secretary Dr Iqbal on Thursday. Director General (DG), EPA, Farooq Hameed Sheikh, Nasim-ur-Rehman, Director, EPA, Dr Arifa Lodhi from SUPARCO, Dr AR Saleemi, member Punjab Environmental Tribunal, Dr Asim Mehmood, Environmentalist Expert, representative of Civil Aviation Authority and Muhammad Shoaib Khan Niazi, Chairman Brick Kiln Association along with his delegation attended the meeting.
Secretary, EPD, Dr Iqbal said brick kilns emission could be reduced by upgrading technology and adopting effective emission-control measures. He said these measures will also reduce fuel consumption and production cost.
It was decided that the brick kilns will be upgraded to cleaner and more fuel-efficient kilns such as VSBK models, which are already established in Vietnam and India. It was revealed that two such kilns are already established in Islamabad and Attock.
It was decided in the meeting that the kilns will apply appropriate air pollution control technologies such as adding gravity-settling chambers to fixed chimney BTKs. The meeting was told that Punjab Environmental Tribunal had also issued directives to control pollution from brick kiln by extending height of the chimney from 100 to 120 feet, top opening of the chimney must be in between 12-Sq.ft to 25.Sq.ft, cross Section area of the flue duct must be 4×4 feet having 150 to 180 feet length, rubber tyre and other substandard fuel must not be allowed, air for combustion and fuel feeding rate be maintained. The meeting agreed that these measures should be followed by all kilns in Punjab.
