National 3 (Spotlight Weekly)

Cleaner Moves

A number of brick kiln entrepreneurs are switching for less polluting technologies

By A CORRESPONDENT

Brick kilns have become one of the primary contributors to the air pollution in Kathmandu valley. They contribute 31.2 percent of the total suspended particles (TSP) and 27.5 percent of total PM 10 (micron particulate matters).

The use of old technologies have been held responsible for such high pollution by the brick kilns.

Brick-kilns : Need to eploy cleaner methods

Fortunately, due to constant lobbying from the environmentalists, the entrepreneurs of brick kilns have gradually began to embrace environment-friendly technologies – which pollute less and consume less coals.

The trend of adopting less polluting technologies in the brick kilns has picked up. The government has already ordered that polluting brick kilns like Moving Bull Trench Kiln must be replaced by less polluting ones like Fixed Chimney or Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln within July this year.

Out of 150 brick kilns registered in the valley, 60 have embraced environment-friendly technology. In a program organized by Clean Energy Nepal (CEN) last week, experts called for strict enforcement of government rules in order to control pollution.

“If all of the brick kiln operators begin to make use of less polluting technologies, the problem of worsening air pollution can be tackled effectively,” said Bhushan Tuladhar, chief of CEN.

The brick kilns not only release dangerous particulate matters but also other polluting gases like Sulphur Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides. According to Sanjaya Shah of Institute of Environment Management (IEM), the estimated monetary value of health impact due to pollution from these matters is around Rs 200 million.

The experts have urged the government to make strict standards and stringently enforce them. “The government is also positive towards allowing the entrepreneurs to choose the technology of their liking so long as they remain within the fixed pollution standard,” said Bijaya Sharraf, technical director at the Department of Cottage and Small Industries.

Chandra Maharjan, brick kiln operator who has adopted VSBK technology recently, too, adds that the government should also take steps in making quality coals available. “When there are cheap and substandard coals from India available rampantly, only changing technologies will not suffice,” he said.

Meanwhile, experts have stressed on using trolley buses in Kathmandu valley to lessen the pollution. In a program organized by Kathmandu Electric Vehicle Alliance (KEVA) recently, experts said that adopting a systematic business plans would make the operation of trolley buses lucrative as well as environment-friendly. The alliance has also come up with business plan for operating the trolley bus service.