Brick kilns becoming eco-friendly
Its heartening to find that with government initiative, brick kilns have started to become eco-friendly. Reportedly, 65.29 per cent brick kilns have been upgraded and kilns have been told to produce 20 per cent concrete block bricks, to reduce the production of baked bricks. The government also needs to allay fears among construction companies that concrete bricks are just as solid as baked ones.
In addition, marketing of concrete bricks need to be carried out vigorously. Kiln owners, who are complying with environmental specifications, can be awarded so others feel encouraged. At the same time, the authority can think about special incentives. There is reason for hope because, in 2018, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Bangladesh Bank earmarked $ 50 million and Tk. 200 crore respectively to provide as soft loans to brick kiln owners so that they may install green technology.
Obviously, the loan will act as an incentive though many unscrupulous owners will try to take the money at low interest to use for something else. This is where the authority needs to be vigilant. Loans on easy terms need to be handed out with the clause that once the environmentally friendly technology is in place, the kiln owner must place a request for inspection. Failing to do so within a specified time should result in a fine, to be collected by the Department of Environment with the help of the police station of the respective area.
At the same time, for any new application for kilns, green technology has to be made mandatory. Since the government has taken green initiatives in several sectors, including leather and building construction, it needs to have a full proof system in place so there isnt any way to circumvent the law. One other alley to explore is to invite overseas experts to sensitise kiln owners via seminars plus workshops.
On a larger scale, Bangladesh needs to experience a multi-dimensional eco-friendly campaign in cities, villages and towns with colourful events held at school, colleges and other academic premises. The idea is to create awareness among future generations of the country, so that when they become entrepreneurs, the importance of preserving nature will always be one of their priorities. In a densely populated country, collective consciousness is vital to safeguard our environment.
