Fired Up

Clay Bricks Scenario

Climate change has numerous manifestations and unscientific and unsustainable construction activities have created monstrous concrete jungles which lead to emissions detrimental to the human health.

This urbanization has significantly impacted agricultural lands, converting them into non-agricultural activities such as brick production. Brick kilns remove agriculturally productive topsoil, which is rich in clay, soil organic matter, and essential nutrients. This depletion negatively affects agricultural growth and food security.

A report by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition identifies brick kilns as one of the largest stationary sources of black carbon, contributing 20% of total black carbon emissions alongside iron and steel production.

Brick kilns emit harmful gases into the atmosphere, leading to reduced land and plant productivity, lowered groundwater levels, and severe air pollution. These emissions alter the chemical and biological characteristics of soil and water, reducing cultivated areas and agricultural production, ultimately threatening food security and livelihoods for future generations.

Environmental Impact of Brick Kilns

Brick kilns operate by heating clay to approximately 1100°C, causing chemical changes that make bricks hard and durable. However, this process consumes vast amounts of coal and other fuels, releasing significant heat and emissions.

India is the second-largest producer of clay-fired bricks, with approximately 100,000 brick kilns producing 150-200 billion bricks annually and employing around 10 million people. The coal consumption of this industry averages 25 million tons per year.

Jammu and Kashmir Brick Industry

The brick industry in Jammu and Kashmir is a significant contributor to environmental degradation. According to the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC), there are approximately 335 brick kilns in Kashmir (primarily in Budgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, and Kupwara) and around 435 in Jammu province (Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, and Rajouri).

Brick kilns significantly impact land degradation, deforestation, and environmental pollution. The traditional firing technologies rely on high-sulfur coal, tyres, and wood and sometimes even trash  leading to severe environmental hazards. The widespread conversion of paddy fields into brick fields threatens food security and soil fertility.

Major Environmental Concerns

1. Land Degradation: Topsoil removal for brick-making depletes essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, degrading soil fertility and agricultural productivity.
2. Water Depletion: Brick kilns lower groundwater levels, reduce water absorption and retention in soil, and increase runoff and evaporation.
3. Air Pollution: Kilns emit large quantities of black carbon, particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon monoxide (CO). Black carbon deposition in higher mountainous areas accelerates glacial melting.
4. Health Hazards: Workers and local populations face hazardous working conditions, high respiratory disease rates, and premature deaths due to exposure to toxic emissions.
5. Deforestation: Wood fuel usage in brick kilns leads to widespread deforestation, disrupting ecosystems and biodiversity.
6. Climate Change: Brick kilns are significant contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with over 1,072 million tons of CO2 released annually, accounting for 2.7% of total global emissions.

Technology Intervention:

There is a strong need of retrofitting of Brick Kilns in Jammu and Kashmir as Zigzag Kilns have been found more efficient than the traditional Fixed Chimney Bull’s Trench Kilns and offer a cleaner and more efficient alternative to Fixed Chimney Bull's Trench Kilns (FCBTKs.

Comparison of Traditional and Zigzag Kilns

• Energy Efficiency: Reduces coal consumption and CO2 emissions by at least 10%.
• Lower Emissions: Significant reduction in black carbon and particulate matter (PM) emissions.
• Improved Brick Quality: Increases Class I brick production from 60-70% (FCBTK) to 80-90% (zigzag kiln).
• Cost Savings: Reduction in coal use and maintenance costs.

Regulatory Framework

The Jammu and Kashmir Brick Kiln (Regulation) Act, 2010 and Rules, 2011, have been published which aim to regulate the sector, but enforcement remains a challenge.

Conclusion

Brick kilns in Jammu and Kashmir pose serious environmental and health risks. Immediate measures, including transitioning to cleaner kiln technologies like zigzag and vertical shaft brick kilns (VSBK), are crucial. Policymakers must enforce regulations to curb emissions, protect agricultural lands, and ensure sustainable development.

The author is a climate Change consultant