The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has taken a significant step to monitor and control air pollution. It has launched an online monitoring portal specifically for brick kilns operating in the state's non-NCR districts. From now on, all brick kiln owners in these areas must register on this portal and report every purchase of paddy straw-based biomass pellets immediately after they buy them.
New rules for brick kilns in Haryana's non-NCR districts
The HSPCB issued a notification on Thursday making this registration and reporting mandatory. The new system is designed to track the use of paddy straw-based biomass pellets, which are seen as a cleaner alternative to traditional fuels like coal. According to the notification, brick kiln owners must now provide details of each procurement of these pellets to the board without delay.
Monthly reporting becomes compulsory
Along with the immediate reporting of pellet purchases, the HSPCB has also made monthly online reporting compulsory for all brick kiln owners. Every month, they will have to submit a detailed report that includes the number of bricks manufactured during that month, the total amount of fuel consumed, and the specific quantities of coal, conventional biomass, and paddy straw-based biomass pellets used.
This move is aimed at ensuring that brick kilns are actually using the mandated paddy straw pellets and not relying entirely on more polluting fuels. The data collected through the portal will help the pollution control board monitor compliance and take action against those who do not follow the rules.
Our Take: A practical step towards cleaner air
In our view, this is a practical and much-needed step by the Haryana government. Simply mandating the use of paddy straw pellets is not enough — without a proper monitoring system, there is no way to know if the rules are being followed. By launching this e-portal and making registration and reporting compulsory, the HSPCB has created a transparent system to track the actual use of cleaner fuel. This should help reduce the burning of coal in brick kilns and, in turn, lower air pollution in the state. The key now will be strict enforcement and making sure that all kiln owners comply with the new reporting requirements.