Roorkee Brick Kilns Seek 1-Yr to install High Draught Technology

The brick manufacturing industry near Roorkee, which makes up more than 60% of the brick production facility in Uttarakhand, is reeling under the mandatory order to install high draught technology in each brick kiln. The order was issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in January, 2019. So far, only 33 brick manufacturers out of the 150 in the district have equipped their respective units with new technology out. Facing financial losses due to Covid-19 outbreak, brick manufacturers urge authorities to give them at least one more year to install the new kiln technology. High draught technology, in which a heavy-duty fan is installed at the base of the chimney of brick kiln and all raw bricks meant for baking are arranged in zig zag pattern, not only reduces the fuel consumption by over 25% but also saves the time required for brick baking, causing less harm to the environment. Though the NGT had asked the state governments to get their brick kiln transformed with the new technology by March 2019, the Uttarakhand government gave kiln owners time till September 30, 2020, for the same. The upgradation of kiln costs anywhere between Rs 20-lakh-to-Rs 30 lakh and it takes around three months for the work to complete.