| File Note: |
It is submitted that the kiln was granted consent to operate under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide no. CTOA/Renewal/PTA/2017/6127675 dated 27.09.2017 (validity upto 30.09.2018), for manufacturing of bricks @ 20000 nos./day subject to certain conditions as mentioned therein. Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi vide its letter no. 489 dated 28.06.2017 issued following directions under section 18 (1b) of the Air Act, 1981 to Punjab Pollution Control Board for improving the quality of ambient air: - (i) All the brick kilns operating without permission and valid consent from SPCBs, not meeting/prescribed norms and siting guidelines be closed down with immediate effect. (ii) Provide status on conversion of natural draft to induced draft brick kiln (with rectangular kiln shape and zigzag brick setting). (iii) Enforce strictly the siting criteria guideline for brick kiln. (iv) All the moving area around the main brick kiln should be paved with the bricks to minimize the fugitive dust emissions from the brick kiln operations. This condition should be incorporated in the consent condition, while granting the consent by the respective State Boards. (v) Ensure that fine dust not to accumulate all around the brick kiln. Also, vide Head Office letter no. SEE(HQ-2)/2017/1043 dated 08.11.2017, it was ordered asunder: “ Whereas, the Central Pollution Control Board (C P C B) vide its letter No. I P C V(SSI)/Brick kiln/2017/4897 dtd. June 27, 2017 has issued directions u/s 18(1)(b) of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 to the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) regarding conversion of the brick kilns working on natural draft to induced draft with rectangular kiln shape and zig - zag brick setting, so as to have effective control over the air pollution caused by the brick kilns. And whereas, the Punjab State Council for Science & Technology (PSCST) has developed an Induced Draft Technology with zig - zag firing for the brick kilns which has been approved by the Board vide its letter no. SEE(HQ - 2)/2017/34596 dated 24.8.2017. And whereas, various meetings were taken by the Chairman of the Board and other officers of the Board with the Brick Kiln Owner's Associations since July, 2017, regarding adoption of the Induced Draft Technology at the earliest in which the brick kiln owners have accepted to adopt the new technology as early as possible. In view of the above, it has now been decided that the consents to operate to the brick kilns shall be renewed up to 31.03.2019 with the condition that these brick kilns shall adopt the Induced Draft Technology by such time. The brick kilns which have already adopted the Induced Draft Technology with zig zag firing and has obtained completion - cum - adequacy certificate to this effect from the PSCST, the consent to operate shall be issued for a period of five years, which would culminate on 30th of September. This issues with the approval of the competent authority in the Board. ” It is further submitted that vide letter no. SEE(HQ-2)/2018/6383 dated 26/02/2018, the Board has also authorized M/s Team Energy Systems, 286-287, Ecotech-Extn, Near Kasna, Greater Noida-201306 (U.P.) to provide the CBRI developed High Draft Zig-Zag technology to the brick kilns in Punjab subject to the condition that the completion-cum-adequacy certificate shall be issued by CBRI, Roorkee for the purpose of issuance of consent to operate under the Air Act, 1981 by the Board to such brick kilns. NGT vide its order dated 24.10.2018 has directed that only brick kilns with induced draft Zig-Zag settling technology will operate in the State of Punjab after 31.01.2019. The Government of Punjab vide its order dated 28.05.2019 had also issued the following directions:- i) The brick kilns situated within non-attainment cities shall not be allowed to operate without adopting the induced draft technology with Zig-Zag setting in compliance with the directions dated 01.07.2016 issued by the CPCB. ii) No conventional brick kiln with natural draft technology shall be allowed to operate beyond 30.09.2019. iii) The brick kilns which are continuing to operate and are in the process of conversion to induced Draft Technology with Zig-Zag setting/ yet to start the process of such conversion are required to pay environmental compensation on the basis of polluter payees principle to the Punjab Pollution Control Board with effect from 01.02.2019 till the adoption of induced Draft Technology with Zig-Zag setting up under: a) Rs. 25000 per month for kiln of capacity equal to more than 30000 bricks per day. b) Rs. 20000 per month for kiln of capacity less than 30000 bricks per day. vi) The Punjab Pollution Control Board shall ensure that the brick kilns operate in compliance with the code of practice prescribed by the CPCB as well as of the State Pollution Control Board. The industry had applied for obtaining consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, but the applications of the industry was returned due to certain in-completions and non payment of EC as the completion certificate issued by CBRI Roorkee was signed dated 17/12/2018 and hence is not required to submit EC in compliance to the above said Govt. of Punjab Orders dated 28.05.2019.
Now, the industry has again applied for fresh consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 for manufacturing of bricks @ 20,000 nos./day under orange category along with requisite documents. The industry has deposited Rs. 5400/- vide dated 05.11.2019, Rs. 300/- dated 25.11.2019 as consent fee. The total consent fee deposited by the industry is adequate upto 30.09.2028 against the investment of Rs. 22.3 lakh as on 30.06.2019 as per CA certificate submitted by it. The industry has also deposited Rs. 1100/- vide R.No. 13/5209 dated 05.11.2019 as NOC regularization fee against increase in the 4.0 lakh. The industry was visited by the undersigned on 19.12.2019 and it was observed as under: 1. The kiln has adopted high draft technology for the manufacturing of bricks and has submitted completion certificate issued to it by CSIR-CBRI, Roorkee of dated 17.12.2018 and hence, no EC is required to be taken.2 The BKO has provided septic tanks for treatment of domestic effluent to be generated from the unit 3. The BKO has planted trees but need to plant more trees along its boundary. On the above said basis,the BKO was granted consent to operate under the Air Act 1981 upto 30.09.2028. Keeping in view of the above mentioned facts, it is recommended that fresh consent to operate under the Water Act, 1974 may be granted to the brick kiln under orange category for a period upto 30.09.2028 for manufacturing of bricks @ 20,000 nos. per day under orange category subject to the suitable conditions along with following special conditions that the industry shall comply with CGWA guidelines and shall provide additional plantation along boundary of its unit. |
