SANGSAD BHABAN, Jan 23, 2018 (BSS) – Environment and Forest Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud today said initiative has been taken to manufacture concrete block instead of conventional brick under pilot basis in order to avoid air pollution by operating brick kilns in the country.
“After feasibility study...the government will initiate concrete block production under pilot basis through technology which is being used by various countries in the world including Japan,” said the minister while responding to a query placed by Mamtaj Begum of Manikganj-2 at the House.
Environment Minister said the traditional fixed chimney brick kilns are one of the prime sources of air pollution, adding that country’s arable land is losing fertility due to using top soil of the land for manufacturing bricks under conventional brick kilns.
To check air pollution and reducing top soil using in brick manufacture, the government has enacted the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kilns Establishment (control)Act 2013 for transforming the traditional brick kilns into modern one, he added.
Under the act, Islam said about 65.21 per cent brick kilns across the country has been transformed into modern technology based till December 2017.
In addition to this, the government has encouraged manufacturing of cement concrete and the government is doing feasibility study on the technology of manufacturing cement concrete which is now being used in many countries including Japan, said the minister.
To this end, a view exchange meeting was held with Japan at the Department of Environment (DoE) on December 2017, he said, adding “Two more view exchange meetings will also be held in January, this year.”
