19 brick kilns found using rubber tyres as fuel

PATIALA: Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) raids found 19 brick kilns employing used rubber tyres as fuel during raids conducted on 105 of them across the state in the last week of June.
Samples of ash from these kilns were taken and analyzed to ascertain the type of fuel being used.
Board officers said analysis revealed that 19 brick kilns were found using used rubber tyres as fuel.
The use of rubber as fuel has already been banned by government of Punjab as it is dangerous to health and causes air pollution. Many brick kilns use this rubber as fuel with a view to cut down on costs.
“For saving a few pennies, unscrupulous elements do not hesitate to pollute the environment. Cutting costs by using this rubber always results in heavy environmental pollution,” said PPCB chairman Kahan Singh Pannu.
Pannu said burning of rubber in any form produces obnoxious gases which are harmful to the environment in general and biodiversity in particular.
All the 19 brick kilns which were found to be using rubber as fuel in violation of provisions of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1981 intentionally and deliberately have been issued closure notice under Section 31-A of the said Act.
“After being given proper opportunity to hear these units, the authorities in the department of food and civil supplies will be issued directions to cancel the licences of those brick kilns which are found guilty,” said the chairman.