High court halts use of red bricks for school buildings

Patna: In an important order reinforcing strict compliance with environmental norms in state govt infrastructure projects, the Patna high court has asked the district magistrate of West Champaran to immediately stop the use of red bricks in an ongoing govt project involving the construction of a 560-bed residential school at Chimania Bazar on the Jogpatti Road.

The court also directed the authorities to strictly follow the central govt directive dated December 31, 2021, issued by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change, which mandates 100% utilisation of fly ash bricks in govt construction projects located within a 300 km radius of a thermal power plant.


A single bench of justice Sandeep Kumar passed the order on Feb 3 while hearing a writ petition filed by a bricks Firm. A copy of the order was made available on Monday evening.

Justice Kumar also sought a reply from the Bihar Educational Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, asking it to explain how red bricks were used instead of fly ash bricks in the construction of the residential school building in West Champaran district.

Appearing for the corporation, counsel Girijesh Kumar assured the high court that he would advise his client to ensure the use of fly ash bricks in compliance with the prescribed norms. The matter is scheduled to be heard again on Feb 17.