CBRI sells fuel saving tech to private firm

The apex national institute for building research – Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) in Dehradun for building construction research has developed a technique which will enable conventional brick kilns to save fuel (coal) consumption by 20 to 25% and to go almost smoke-free. It has transferred this high draught (HD) kiln technology to private players. According to reports, CBRI sold the HD kiln technology to a Panchkula-based private industry in Haryana. The industry will now sell the technology to conventional brick kiln owners. Many private players were interested in buying the technology. The institute had received around 35-40 queries. This technology is significant considering that the environment pollution (prevention & control) authority has made it mandatory for brick-manufacturing units to use HD kiln in the National Capital Region (NCR) from November. CBRI director Dr. N Gopalakrishnan said that the industry’s response is overwhelming and they are planning to transfer the technology to many more firms. The technology which has been developed indigenously saves fuel as compared to conventional brick kilns and also increases the production of ‘avval’ (top grade) bricks. It also restricts pollution as the process is almost smoke-free. There are more than 400 brick kilns in Uttarakhand, of which 156 are in Haridwar district.