More than 1.2 lakh of the total 1.4 lakh brick kilns in the country and around 2,600 of the total 2,700 brick kilns in Punjab have been non-functional for over three months for want of environment clearance certificates from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. The state government is also being accused of dilly-dallying in hammering out a solution to the issue. The Punjab Brick Kiln Owners' Association (PBKOA), representing around 2,600 kilns in the state, has urged the state government to take up the case with the Union Environment Ministry for relaxing norms for digging earth up to one metre. The association has alleged that owners of over 100 brick kilns had been running their operations "illegally" under "political and official patronage". They should either be stopped from doing so or a "level playing field" be ensured for everyone, the association has said. Most of these brick kilns are situated in Moga, Amritsar, Patiala, Ferozepur and Tarn Taran districts. "To run our business illegally, either we have to pay a hefty 'fee' to the general managers of the Department of Industries concerned or we have to find some political link. We don't want to opt for any illegal way out. Why should we operate like thieves? We won't run our kilns till government comes out with a viable solution. We want to do fair business. We want the state government to take up our 'genuine' case with the Union Environment Ministry," said association general secretary Inder Pal Singh Walia and other office-bearers, including Sarbjit Singh Dhillon, Surinder Lekhi and Dewan Goyal. None of the over 2,600 brick kiln owners was able to start brick-making operations after the rainy season this year. "How can we do so when there is so much ambiguity over environment clearance certificates and the definition of mining under the new guidelines? Earlier, brick kilns were brought under B-1 category, which meant that kiln owners had to get clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. It was a tedious and time-consuming process taking six to nine months," rued Inder Pal Singh Walia, Sarbjit Dhillon, Surinder Lekhi and Dewan Goyal. "Later, the ministry issued a notification that kiln owners can get environmental clearance under B-2 category from state-level committees. Now, it has been once again made it mandatory for us to get environmental clearance under B-1 category from the Union Environment Ministry. As of now, over 90 per cent of a total of 1.4 lakh brick kilns across the country are not functioning," they said. Minister for Industries Madan Mohan Mittal was not available for comments. Owners of over 900 kilns had earlier applied to the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) for environment clearance certificates under B-2 category and 315 of them got these certificates earlier this year. But now, most of these certificates stood expired, said Inder Pal Walia. Kiln owners said they would not resume production of bricks till they got clear-cut instructions and valid permits for the purpose. The non-functioning of brick kilns was, however, unlikely to create any scarcity of bricks or result in price hike. "The construction activity has already dipped in the state. Moreover, we have huge stocks lying with us which are sufficient to meet the needs of consumers for about a year," kiln owners said. 'Take up the issue' We don't want to opt for any illegal way out (to run kilns). Why should we operate like thieves? We want the state government to take up our genuine case with the Union Environment Ministry (over environment clearances). Punjab Brick Kiln Owners' Association 'No scarcity of bricks' The non-functioning of brick kilns is unlikely to create scarcity of bricks. The construction activity has already dipped in the state. Moreover, we have huge stocks lying with us that are sufficient to meet needs of consumers for about a year.