Islamabad: Closure ordered on 12 brick kilns in vicinity of airport

[Naveed Yaseen]

Muhammad Qasim
The Ministry of Environment has directed 12 brick kilns located in the vicinity of Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad, to stop their operation within one month to overcome visibility problems for aeroplanes as well as improving air quality in the area.

According to a spokesman of the ministry, Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pak EPA) has issued Environment Protection Orders (EPOs) in this regard. The ministry of environment has received a number of complaints about environmental pollution caused by brick kilns, which emit thick black smoke exceeding the permissible limits. The health of the surrounding population was also at stake due to toxic emissions by these brick kilns. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was also perusing the matter since long to close down these brick kilns, as visibility at the airport runways was being affected due to spreading of smoke.

The Pak-EPA presented a plan to Federal Minister for Environment Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi to improve the air quality in Islamabad. Accordingly, the Pak-EPA took cognisance of the situation and owners of brick kilns were served notices under section 16 of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997, and after providing opportunity of being heard, it was established that the brick kilns owners were unable to control pollution in the near future, it was therefore decided to immediately close down the operation of 12 brick kilns falling under the Red Zone (very near to the Airport) within one month. In this regard, the Pak-EPA under first phase issued EPOs to the brick kilns in the Red Zone.

Besides other measures, it was proposed to close down 12 brick kilns very near to the airport by year 2009, closure of 30 brick kilns lying in orange zone (within ICT) by year 2012 and closing of 50 brick kilns (outer periphery of ICT) by year 2015.

Burning of coal in brick kilns results in release of several air pollutants in atmosphere such as, Carbon monoxide (CO), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter. At local level, particularly in the vicinity of a brick kiln these pollutants are injurious to human health, animal and plant life. Very fine particulate matters emitted from brick kiln are amongst the most harmful air pollutants. When inhaled, these particles evade the respiratory system’s natural defences and lodge deep in the lungs and cause asthma, aggravate bronchitis and other respiratory diseases as well as reduce the body’s ability to fight infections. Other chemicals commonly found in brick kiln smoke is Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHC) that may cause short-term symptoms such as eye irritation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Long-term Exposure to PAHC may cause cataracts, damage to kidney, liver and even cancer.

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