People’s Right to Know
The question over the operation of illegal brick kilns was raised in J&K Legislative Assembly during the budget session. MLA Beerwah, Dr. Mohammad Shafi, and MLA Chadoora, Ali Mohammad Dar, raised serious allegations that registered units were targeted while illegal ones continue to operate. Responding to the concerns, Deputy Chief Minister Surrinder Choudhary, who also holds the Mining portfolio, announced a formal inquiry into the recent demolitions of kilns and crushers. Choudhary informed the House that of the 199 brick kilns in Budgam, 128 have currently settled their royalty dues for brick earth consumption with the District Mineral Officer.
Under the earlier directives of District Development Commissioner Budgam, a rigorous campaign was launched to dismantle illegal brick kilns across the district. This initiative was hailed by general public, environmentalists and social activists as a vital step towards curbing soaring atmospheric pollution and safeguarding Budgam’s fertile agricultural land.
The drive began with a high visibility, as the administration successfully demolished three illegal kilns in the Mullshulla area of Beerwah.This was followed by a similar action in Kultreh and Behrampora villages of Chadoora, bringing the total to six demolished units. However, this environmental victory has a flip side to it. Kiln owners complain about lost livelihoods and landowners lament the loss of handsome rents. Yet the most pressing concern is the sudden loss of the momentum. After a fiery start, the drive has seemingly cooled down, raising serious questions? And why the remaining illegal kilns continue to operate?
Earlier the official figures revealed that out of 570 brick kilns in J&K a staggering 232 operate in Budgam. While the government admitted 132 illegal units across the UT, unofficial reports suggested that the reality is far more grim, with over 300 illegal kilns operating in Jammu and Kashmir, more than 100 of which are situated in Budgam. The unregulated kilns have transformed Budgam into a health hazard. Inefficient fuel emits a toxic cocktail of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. For communities and workers, this results in devastating health crisis: chronic respiratory illness, cardiovascular problems and impaired lung function.
The environmental toll extends to the very soil that feeds the people of the area. Over 4,443 kanals of fertile agricultural land in Budgam, Beerwah and Chadoora have been swallowed by brick kilns threatening local food security. Further more, the heavy fleet of tippers supplying these have decimated rural road infrastructure, turning commute routes into hazardous, dilapidated paths that hinder vehicular movement.
While the environmental and social activists have hailed the demolition drive, the move has also invited tough questions. Renowed environmentalist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat rightly asks, “if these kilns were illegal, how did they operate for 10 to 15 years?” The demand is clear; there must be a strict accountability and action against the officials who shielded these owners and allowed this illegality to flourish for over a decade.
For the current drive to be credible, it must not lose its momentum. Only those kilns that strictly adhere to the J&K Brick Kilns Regulation Act 2010 and its subsequent amendments should be allowed to function. This act mandates zoning restrictions (no kilns on agricultural land), creation of green belts around units, compulsory land use certificates and environmental clearances. Beyond enforcement, the industry must evolve. It is imperative to transition from traditional methods to Zig-Zag technology and Piped Natural Gas ( PNG).
These modern standards can drastically reduce fuel consumption and toxic emissions, ensuring that industrial growth does not come at the cost of human life and the environment
G.Q Kamran, Educator at Govt Model Hr Sec School Zoohama
