Pollution and Pollution Control Measures: A Case Study of Brick Industry in Karimganj District of Assam

Brick kiln is a traditional and an important unorganised industrial sector in India and other developing countries. Brick kilns are small scale sector which uses manual labour and traditional firing technologies. It is estimated that more than 100,000 kilns produce about 80 to100 billion bricks per year in India. The present demand is estimated as 120 billion bricks per year. The employment of brick kilns is approximately eight million people. These industries supply bricks for constructions of the housing sector, bridges, roads and canals etc. in both rural and urban areas. The construction sector is an important part of the Indian economy with the contribution of 10 per cent in the GDP and is registering an annual growth of 9 per cent. According to Pollution Control Board, Guwahati, (2013) the state has 912 permanent brick kilns. As per the report of Pollution Control Board, Regional Office, Silchar, Cachar, Assam