Combined efforts : PDMA collaborates with LUMS and BoP for zigzag kilns

The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has sought the services of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and Punjab Bank (BoP) to move traditional smoke emitting brick kilns to more environmentally friendly zigzag technology.

The transfer, which is estimated to come around at the cost of Rs1.5 to two million, will help curb environmental pollution in the region to a significant extent.

According to Brick Kiln Owners Association Secretary General Mehr Abdul Haq, there are some 10,294 kilns in Punjab, out of which over 2,330 kilns have embraced the new technology.

“With 736 modern furnaces, Kasur district houses the largest number of kilns shifted to zigzag while more to be converted in the near future,” told the Secretary General.

As per an Express survey, out of the 250 kilns in Attock, at present only seven kilns have adopted zigzag. Similarly, 32 out of 220 in Rawalpindi, three out of 163 in Jhelum, 16 out of 118 in Chakwal, 19 out of 403 in Sargodha, 25 out of 156 in Khushab, two out of 67 in Chiniot, 61 out of 254 in Gujrat, 75 out of 245 in Mandi Bahauddin and 62 out of 93 in Hafizabad have adopted the eco-friendly technology.

In addition to that, 105 out of 205 in Narowal, 60 out of 265 in Sialkot, 74 out of 332 in Gujranwala, 91 out of 312 in Sheikhupura, 35 out of 107 in Nankana Sahib, 207 out of 607 in Faisalabad, 15 out of 415 in Toba Tek Singh, 3 out of 280 in Jhang, one out of 198 in Bhakkar, one out of 254 in Layyah, 426 in Muzaffargarh. seven out of 156 in DG Khan, 12 out of 614 in Multan, one out of 162 in Rajanpur, 10 out of 350 in Rahim Yar Khan, 25 out of 450 in Bahawalpur, 7 out of 292 in Lodhran, Vehari 74 out of 380, 82 out of 248 in Bahawalnagar, 20 out of 221 in Pakpattan, 24 out of 320 in Khanewal, 59 out of 230 in Sahiwal, 129 out of 232 in Okara, and more than 250 out of 277 kilns in Lahore have been moved to zigzag.

Some district however, are still in the final stages of transition but it is anticipated that the zigzag conversion process will be completed to a large extent during kiln closure in smog season.

Elaborating on collaborative venture, PDMA Directorate General Procurement Raja Khurram Shehzad Omar said that project will be brought to completion with the joint efforts of PDMA, LUMS and Bank of Punjab.

“We hope to keep kiln owners on-board with the implementation of the new technology. In this regard, LUMS will provide us with smog sensors and develop the required technology to assist installation of fans on electric vehicles, while ensuring a supply of recovery units instead of burning crop residue,” informed Omar.

Per sources, some kiln owners in Punjab have flatly refused to shift their kilns to zigzag technology, while many furnaces in the suburbs of Lahore are still making bricks despite the ban. Although cases in the regard have # been registered against kiln owners, but they are yet to halt operations.

On the other hand however, the secretary general of the brick kilns owners association blamed the government’s false promises to be the reason behind the project’s delay. “The government should allow the operation of zigzag kilns while also giving more conversion opportunities to kilns which are not able to make the move after the smog season,” he expressed.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2020.