Navi Mumbai: A team of Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) officials led by Commissioner Sudhakar Shinde demolished 25 brick kilns in Kharghar on Saturday.
Three excavators, three fire tenders, and police personnel were involved in the the six-hour operation. The move comes after residents complained about the air pollution caused by the units.
Officials said despite issuing the brick kilns’ owners notices and two months to move out of the PCMC limits, they continued operations.
“The kilns had no permission either from the CIDCO or the PCMC. Thus the operations were illegal,” said Dr. Shinde.
Meanwhile, PCMC officials have started creating awareness among residents that they need not tolerate the brick kilns.
“Kiln fire produces hazardous gasses. If residents notice any such activities, they should inform fire station following which action will be taken,” said the Commissioner.
“My children often suffer from respiratory problems. After a test, we were told that it was due to inhaling the toxic gasses. The action taken by the authority will give us the much-needed relief,” said Manisha Rai (name changed), a resident of Kharghar.
Danger lurks
Brick dust particles substantially reduce air quality and can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, bronchitis, silicosis, and other pulmonary complications. One of the greatest threats of the dust inhalation is crystalline silica exposure. Silica is commonly found in quartz rock and minerals; when cut, crushed and ground, particles small enough to respire are released into the air. As a known carcinogen, prolonged inhalation of above-threshold values of crystalline silica can destroy the breathing capacity of the lungs.
