209 kilns razed across Punjab over violation of Zig Zag technology

LAHORE:Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab has demolished 209 brick kilns besides imposing Rs81.585 million fine to 30,566 brick kilns across Punjab for not complying with Zig Zag Methodology, ‘The News’ has learnt.

Sources in the EPA Punjab informed this scribe that EPA officials inspected 30,566 brick kilns in all over the province from April 01, 2024 till date and got registered 1,070 FIRs (Istighasaas) while 945 brick kilns were sealed for not implementing the Zig Zag methodologies. Sources in EPD further added that after the conversion of all brick kilns into zig zag technology, the brick kilns owners were involved in violation of Zig Zag Methodology compliance as they were not placing/stacking the bricks in zig zag pattern besides their blowers were also not operational during the time of inspection.

Sources said a total of 160 brick kilns were flooded with water bowser for repeating violations and 209 brick stacks were demolished with the help of heavy machinery by EPA staff in coordination with district administrations.

Environmentalists said the real difference between the traditional Fixed Chimney Bulls Trench Kiln (FCBTK) and the zig zag technology driven brick kiln is that in the former the placement of bricks is done in a straight pattern, whereas in the latter the bricks are placed in a zig zag pattern. The zig zag pattern allows to efficiently manoeuvre the air for heating purposes.

Furthermore, the black smoke that comes out of the traditional brick kiln is due to inefficient burning of fuel, whereas, the zig zag setting of bricks and continuous feeding of small quantities of coal improves fuel efficiency.

The Induced-Draught zig zag kiln type also has a fan, which allows to control the air, thereby making the coal burning process even more efficient, they added.

EPA Punjab spokesperson said 1,067 brick kilns were checked in Attock and a fine of Rs32,00,000 was imposed, Bahawalnagar 623 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs1810,000, Bahawalpur 1,414 brick kilns fine imposed Rs300,000, Bhakkar 1,208 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs600,000, Chakwal 1,088 brick kilns with fine imposed 1200,000, Chiniot 395 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs2300,000, Faisalabad 539 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs55,00,000, Gujranwala 474 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs11,00,000, Gujrat 563 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs1,000,000, Hafizabad 621 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs1300,000, Jhang 1,965 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs11600,000, Jhelum 870 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs700,000, Kasur n 1,047 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs1,1300,000, Khanewal 990 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs1,300,000, Khushab 721 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs200,000, Lahore 345 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs600,000, Layyah 777 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs200,000, Lodhran 1,222 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs600,000, Muzaffargarh 1,048 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs300,000, Nankana Sahib 617 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs1600,000, Narowal 527 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs2,800,000, Pakpattan 952 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs3,000,000, Rahimyar Khan 705 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs1200,000, Rawalpindi 609 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs7950,000, Sahiwal 1,568 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs8500,000, Sheikhupura 767 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs4925,000, Sialkot 508 fine imposed 3600,000, Toba Tek Singh 616 brick kilns with fine imposed Rs1,800,000.

Talking to The News, EPA Punjab Director General Imran Hamid Sheikh said that Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzaib and Secretary EPCCD Punjab Raja Jahangir issued strict directions that violating brick kilns will be demolished and their owners will be put behind the bars. —