The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) is examining if it can ban use of burnt-clay bricks in its construction projects, a move aimed at giving a boost to environment-friendly products. If the Government bans making burnt clay bricks, it would be a big blow  to brick-kiln industry. Earlier, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had ordered banning digging of earth for making bricks and roads without prior environment clearance (EC),

According to an official, the HUA Ministry has directed the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to examine whether burnt clay bricks can be banned for use in its construction projects.

Following the ministry’s directions, the CPWD has sought a feedback from its officials concerned and asked them to submit the same by December 11. “Numerous directives, guidelines and rules have been issued by various Government bodies regarding clay bricks, but the situation on the ground is not changing,” officials said.  The CPWD is the largest construction agency of the Centre. It mostly constructs office buildings of Central Government, autonomous bodies among others across the country.

Officials say red clay bricks get their colour from the iron-oxide in the valuable fertile topsoil which is used to make them. A huge amount of agricultural soil gets wasted and locked-into structures as a result of red clay bricks. “Illegal mining of soil is a huge problem. The unorganised sector doesn’t want to take the hassles of organising and managing the supply of better materials and prefers to “just take the soil from somewhere” and make bricks with it. While the organised sector of AAC and CLC blocks works professionally by managing the raw-materials for production more efficiently,” said officials.

“There are technologies available to produce environment-friendly bricks by utilisation of waste material To give a boost to environment-friendly products and waste material, the Ministry has directed CPWD to examine whether burnt clay bricks can be banned for use in its works,” a senior official said.

Traditional brick-kilns cause air pollution as they use coal in brick-making process. In October this year, the Supreme Court-appointed EPCA pushed NCR States to ensure that all brick-kilns implement the “zig-zag” technology, as specified by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, which can reduce emissions by 80 per cent.

Burnt clay bricks are the classic form of brick, created by pressing wet clay into molds, then drying and firing them in kilns. This is a very old building material-the type of brick found in many of the ancient structures of the world. In appearance, these bricks are solid blocks of hardened clay, usually reddish in color.

“Burnt clay bricks are typically sold in four classes, with first-class offering the best quality and most strength. These high-grade burnt clay bricks have no noticeable flaws, but they’re also going to cost more. When these bricks are used in walls, they require plastering or rendering with mortar. Uses for burnt clay bricks include,” officials said.