On February 22, 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified the Environment (Protection) Amendment Rules, 2022 to further amend the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.
Key amendments:
- In Schedule – I entry Sl No. 74 which specify “emission standards for brick kilns” has been substituted by the following:
“Minimum stack height (Vertical Shaft Brick Kilns)
-
- Kiln capacity less than 30,000 bricks per day – 14 m (at least 7.5m from loading platform).
- Kiln capacity equal or more than 30,000 bricks per day – 16 m (at least 8.5m from loading platform)”
- All new brick kilns shall be allowed only with zig-zag technology or vertical shaft or use of Piped Natural Gas as fuel in brick making and shall comply to these standards.
- Brick kilns should be established at a minimum distance of one kilometre from an existing brick kiln to avoid clustering of kilns in an area.
- The brick kiln owners shall ensure that the road utilized for transporting raw materials or bricks are paved roads and the vehicles shall be covered during transportation of raw material/bricks.