SHEIKH MAQBOOL
Today the entire valley of Kashmir is under the cover of white snow. The amazing natural beauty of the valley really proved it as a paradise on the earth. The illegal constructions and developments are going on which are not only destroying the natural beauty of Kashmir but livelihood of the common people too. The world famous Dal Lake has arsenic in its water. It has not only lost its natural beauty but we have destroyed completely its unique ecological social cultural system. Now a day the issue of brick kilns is in very much discussion after the j&k Rti foundation in collaboration with Save Budgamraise the voice. There are 550 brick kilns in the entire state. The Budgam district has the highest number as more than 250 kilns. Most of the workers working in the brick kilns or in other working field are outsiders and mostly from state Bihar. To get employment, there are migrating to the valley from their state. Brick kilns are the major factor of air pollution in the valley. And it needs an eco-friendly solution. Most of the manufacturers do not have license or they have not renewed their license. It is a naked truth that brick kilns fields are not following any environmental law.
In the entire state all brick kilns units are using the old traditional bull trench technology in present. State Pollution Control Board (PCB) has asked the brick kilns owners operating in Srinagar and Jammu cities to switch over from the traditional bull trench technology to eco-friendly zigzag technology within a year as Government of India has fixed timeline to bring down carbon emissions from Brick Kilns from 750mg/Nm3 to 250 mg/Nm3 keeping in view the second major contributory of Green House Gases emissions after Thermal Gas Plants in country. The unit holders are also advised to immediately plant saplings around their brick kilns as per directions of Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
Brick kilns are not only responsible for air pollution in the state but they are the major reason behind the increasing infertility of the land too. With pain we have to note that the production of saffron has reduced. Of course there are so many reasons behind that. But the major factor is that we are not protecting our natural resources.
Whether we bring new eco-friendly technology or not, we do not have mechanism to supervise it. Otherwise there is not an absence of any law. We have environmental laws. Thing is that we are not interested in its implementation. Otherwise all these are going under the nose of the administration and State Pollution Control Board is just like the tiger on the paper. Of course, we would be happy if the new zigzag technology will be proved right. But our past says that we are not serious in protection of environment,and truth is not possible to reach the global forum because of conflict.
We are witnessing that the mining, constructions, brick kilns, encroachment over natural resources are developing fast in the state. Perhaps we have forgotten that the valley of Kashmir falls in earthquake sensitive zone. Even we must not forget the disastrous flood of 2014. Nature works in own way. It is a fact that all the natural disaster occurs due to the development minus human and nature’s interest. It is matter of surprising how so many units of brick kilns have been permitted in the valley when we know that this industry is not in the favoure of nature of the valley. What our valley needs in real are eco-friendly industries and not the anti – nature, anti – human, disastrous industries. But in the run of so called development, we are inviting destruction ourselves.
Right to live is a human right of ours. And that is why pollution free air for breathing is one’s human right. So the people of the state on the earth must have pure air to breathe. And it is the responsibility of the state to reduce the level of pollution from the valley whether it has caused from vehicles or constructions or brick kilns. We want development but development must be with human interest.
(SHEIKH MAQBOOL [email protected] The author is Vice chairman and chief spokesperson of J&K RTI Foundation. Views are his own)
