Lahore: In accordance with an Environment Protection Department (EPD) strategy developed for combating smog during the upcoming winter season, a department spokesperson recently notified that brick kilns found running on traditional production methods would remain closed from October 1 to December 31 – a news source reported.
The spokesperson added that EPD had issued warning to the brick kiln owners who had failed to convert their units on the zig-zag technology model. The EPD source stated that they would initiate an operation against smoke-emitting kilns within the next few days.
According to sources, the kilns that rely on traditional practices emit more smoke, which contributes significantly to smog formation during winters. Last year in September, a delegation from Nepal had visited Punjab to prepare recommendations for implementing the zig-zag system.
In a natural draught zig-zag firing kiln, the fire moves within a closed rectangular circuit through the bricks. These bricks are stacked in the annular space between the outer and inner wall of the kiln. The bricks are arranged in a manner that allows the air to flow in a zig-zag path. This technology not only reduces pollutant emissions, but facilitates a reduction in energy consumption as well. Additionally, it improves the product quality.
