Whether Burning Of Paddy Stocks In Punjab Is Causing More Pollution Or Burning Paddy Straw Pellets In Brick Kilns? High Court To Decide

The Punjab & Haryana High Court will consider whether the burning of huge paddy stocks available in the agricultural fields in Punjab is causing more pollution or whether burning the paddy straw pellets in brick kilns will cause more pollution.

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal was hearing plea filed by the Punjab Brick Kiln Owners Association challenging the notification issued by the Punjab Government in 2022 wherein while relying upon the The Environment Protection Rules 2022, it issued a notification wherein all brick Kilns in Punjab have been asked to replace at least 20% of the coal with paddy straw pellets.

The plea sought direction to the Punjab Government to allow the Association to use Coal as fuel as per the Environment Amendment Rules, 2022.

In 2022, the Centre Government amended the Environment Protection Rule with the purpose of reducing the particulate matter in stack emission from a Kiln to 250 mg/Nm & also to ensure that new brick kilns would be allowed to use on ZigZag Technology or Vertical Shaft, the plea submitted.

The 2022 rules further provided that all brick kilns shall use only approved fuel such as Piped Natural Gas, coal fire wood and or residues use of pet coke tyres plastic hazardous waste shall not be allowed in brick kilns, it added.

It was submitted that the association has already converted majority of its Kilns to either ZigZag Technology or Vertical Shaft even though the 2022 Rules hence necessary compliance of the 2022 Rules has already been done.

During the hearing the hearing the Court asked the senior counsel appearing for the Association to make a written submission as regards the approximate cost for establishing a paddy pelletization unit before the next date of hearing.

The matter is listed for 

Title: Punjab Brick Kiln Owners Association v. State of Punjab and others

Mr. D.S. Patwalia, Senior Advocate, with Mr. Kannan Malik, Advocate, Ms. Alisha Sharda, Advocate, Gauravjit Patwalia for the petitioner in CWP-24772-2023.

Mr. Shrey Goel, Advocate, for the petitioners in CWP-520-2024.

Mr. Salil Sabhlok, Senior Deputy Advocate General, Punjab.

Ms. Anu Pal, Advocate, for respondent No. 2 – Punjab Pollution Control Board, in CWP-24772-2023 & CWP-520-2024.

Mr. Gaurav Pathak, Advocate, for respondent No. 3 – Central Pollution Control Board, in CWP-24772-2023.

Mr. Amit Jhanji, Senior Advocate, with Ms. Eliza Gupta, Advocate,

Mr. Sahil Shehrawat, Advocate, for the applicant – Paddy Straw Pellet Manufacturers Association.

Click here to read/download the order