Banned on paper, but coal still fuels NCR’s brick kilns

Coal has been banned for industrial use across Delhi-NCR since January 1, 2023, with only thermal power plants permitted to use low-sulphur coal.

Yet, on the ground, the ban appears to be routinely flouted. Several brick kilns continue to burn coal even as industrial emissions remain a major source of pollution in the region.

Delhi’s air turned dangerously toxic last winter. If the coal ban is not enforced, its impact will inevitably be felt in the air people breathe.

Why, then, is coal still being used?

To find out, we visited brick kilns in Ghaziabad, where owners and workers offered a different perspective. One kiln operator told us: “A large number of workers depend on this industry. If the entire process shifts to electricity or gas, only five or six people would be needed, and many workers would lose their jobs.”

Kiln owners also insist that coal-fired kilns produce stronger, better-quality bricks that command higher prices in the market.

Watch our ground report on why a key anti-pollution rule is failing on the ground.

This report is part of a collaborative campaign to tackle air pollution. Here’s how you can join the Fight To Breathe. Click here to power this campaign.