NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has requested the Uttar Pradesh authorities to keep a watch on illegal functioning of brick kilns to safeguard air quality in the National Capital Region. The NGT bench was hearing a complaint against illegal exercise of 600 brick kilns in Bagpat district of Uttar Pradesh.
The additional district magistrate of Ghaziabad had briefed the tribunal in June that the UP chief secretary had directed all the district magistrates on March 29 to permit functioning of all brick kilns.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the NGT had previously informed them that in the previous week, there are 4,635 brick kilns in the National Capital Region, out of which 2,697 have converted to zig-zag technology, which consumes less coal. A study by Energy and Resources Institute and the Automotive Research Association of India shows8 per cent of the PM 2.5emissions in Delhi during winters and 5 per centduring summers is contributed by the brick kiln industry.