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Coal shortage hits Kishanganj brick kilns

The chimneys of the brick kilns are yet to billow out the black smokes due to acute shortage of coal which the brick kiln owners across Kishanganj district are facing. The season for manufacturing bricks has set in. There are nearly 150 brick kilns in the district.

The owners do not only meet the ever increasing demand of bricks across the district but have also emerged as big suppliers to the neighbouring state of West Bengal (WB), sources said. However, acute dearth of coal has been dodging the local brick kiln owners like elsewhere. District mining officer (DMO) Ravindra Kumar, talking to TOI on Monday, admitted that kiln owners are concerned over non-supply of coal.

The coal needed for firing the brick kilns for the purposes of baking the bricks is supplied to them from Assam. However, this year regular suppliers are only sitting with their fingers crossed, a brick kiln owner said.

"We can't also afford to engage workers who are often brought from Assam as well as West Bengal until we are assured of regular supply of coal," a Brick Kiln Owners' Association spokesperson said. "What is more worrisome is that if we fail to engage them now, the labourers, who have expertise in making bricks might find alternate avenues for themselves," he said.

Source: The Times of India