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“Environmental Impact of Bricks Making

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196 Environment Conservation, Challenges Threats in Conservation of Biodiversity

Chapter “Environmental Impact of Bricks Making

26 Process in Umbraj and Masur Area.”

MS. ASHA BUDHARAM MADAVI

Assistant Professor
Dr. Patangrao Kadam Mahavidyalaya, Ramanandnagar (Burli), Sangli Maharashtra.
asha.madavi@gmail.com,
8975134076

ABSTRACT
Indian brick industry is the second largest brick producer in the world. A brick is one of the
important building materials in the country. In Umbraj Bricks Kilns in Masur, Chore, Chaphal,
Charegoan, Bhoslewadi and surrounding area of Umbraj. In Umbraj and Masur many brick Kilns are
situated on the banks of Krishna, Mand and Tarli River. In Umbraj good agriculture soil is preferred
as the raw material for making bricks. It consists of clay preparation, shaping, drying and firing
operation. The burning of fuel for firing bricks results in release of gaseous pollutants and ash into the
environment. Air pollution and good quality soil are the major environmental concerns related with
bricks making process in the Umbraj. Bricks making process are the major sources of air pollution and
soil degradation. This is not only air pollution, soil pollution and it is also degrading the health of the
people living the around the bricks kilns. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the
impact of brick making process on environment and human health in Umbraj and Masur bricks kilns.
That there are adverse effects of these bricks making process on soil, water, air, vegetation and human
health. Bricks are mainly made of soil and numbers of additives are added to the soil to increase the
strength of bricks. The use of unnecessary amount of soil causes soil degradation.
KEYWORDS Environmental issues, Bricks Kilns, Human Health, Soil degradation, Leaching
Process.
INTRODUCTION
The environmental issues are widely discussed on the platform which range from local to
Global. The environmental degradation is a global phenomenon. The study were discusses
on effect of Bricks making process on the environment and human health in Umbraj, Masur
and surrounding areas. Bricks are one of the important building materials. The Umbraj is
comparatively rich and prosperous town of the Satara district of Maharashtra. Umbraj is an
important village in Karad Taluka of Satara district. This village is nearer to National
Highway-4.(AH). This village is mostly important for brick manufacturing because many
brick kilns setups are in united pattern. Umbraj and surrounding village are three river
comprises basin, Krishna in is the south; Tarali is in the north and Mand is in the west.
Three types of soils are spread in the region, mainly alluvial, black and laterrite, this type of
soil useful for brick manufacturing. The favourable period of the brick Manufacturing is
mostly the winter and summer season.
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Environment Conservation, Challenges Threats in Conservation of Biodiversity 197

Umbraj is important centre of brick industry. The brick industries are concentrating in
and around the Umbraj. The other important aspect is that the people involved in this
business are economically sound and tried to grab the opportunities of establish secondary
occupation. Natural condition was favourable to the brick industry. Brick industries around
this town are dominating in the rural economy. The workers plays very important role in
the bringing the brick industries as important source of employment and investors seems
that it is important subsidiary activity for agriculture sector. It is mainly because availability
of different kinds of raw material and sufficient water. The brick production depends on
various factors such as availability of water, market and other raw materials required in
brick making process. Availability of good quality of soil is important for brick making. The
largely scale availability of water resource soil, raw material; workers etc. are supporting
the activity. In Umbraj good agriculture soil is preferred as the raw material for making
bricks. The burning of fuel for firing bricks result in emission of gaseous pollutants and ash
into the environment. Air pollution and good quality soil the major environment concerns
related with the bricks industry.

Fig.1. Study Area

The socio-economic development of the Umbraj and surrounding area is get influenced
by the brick industries. The Umbraj is comparatively rich and prosperous town. Brick
industries around this town are dominating in the rural economy. The workers plays vital
role in the bringing the brick industries as important source of employment and investors
seems that it is important secondary activity for agriculture sector. It is mainly because
availability of different kinds of raw material and sufficient water. The brick production
depends on various factors such as availability of water, market and other raw materials
required in brick making process. Availability of good quality of soil is important for brick
making. Number of additives is added to clay to increase the strength of the bricks
including fuel wood, soybean husk, fly ash and other agricultural waste.
The river Krishna and his tributaries Mand and Tarli Rivers are deposited fine or clay
sediments on the both right and left banks at the time of flood or optimum water level. Such
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198 Environment Conservation, Challenges Threats in Conservation of Biodiversity

fine soil is ideal for brick manufacturing. In study region urbanization is going on very
rapidly as well as the house construction with using bricks is common among the villagers.
Due to this fact demand of bricks are increasing vastly from last two decades and its impact
is shown on soil degradation. The brick manufacturing needs a rich supply of fine radish
fertile soils which is only available along the banks of rivers. Therefore, the banks of the
river or river course are the ideal location for brick manufacturing. So therefore many bricks
kilns are situated in Masur and surrounding area of Umbraj.
BRICKS MAKING PROCESS
There are four different method are involved in the process of manufacturing of bricks. The
process of manufacturing of bricks from clay involves preparation of clay, molding and
then drying and burning of bricks.

Fig. 2. Bricks Making Process.

1. Preparation of clay: Clay bricks manufacturing is done in six steps. The top layer of soil
may contain impurities, so the clay in top layer of soil about 200 mm depth is thrown
away. After the remove of top layer, the clay is dug out from the ground and spread on
the plan ground then the cleaning of clay. Cleaned clay expose for weathering.
Weathering may be full rainy season then blending and tempering method.
2. Molding: In the molding process prepared clay is mold into bricks shape this processes
can be done in hand molding.
3. Drying of row bricks: After molding process the bricks contain some amount of
moisture in it, so drying is to be done otherwise they may cracked while burning.
4. Burning of bricks: The dried bricks are burned in Kilns up to certain degree
temperature.
BRICKS MAKING MATERIAL: Natural Clay, Silica (sand), Coal, Salt, Lime, water,
bagasse.
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Environment Conservation, Challenges Threats in Conservation of Biodiversity 199

Fig. 3. Bricks Making Material.

BRICKS KILN PROFIT

1) Brick industry is a small scale Industry.
2) It is one of the largest employment generating industries.
3) Brick making is a largely rural industry with bricks making units.
4) It is important secondary activity for agriculture sector.
5) Brick industries around Umbraj area are dominating in the rural economy.
BRICKS KILN ENVIORNMENTAL POLLUTION:
In the brick industry the use of the natural resources is more, so the exploitation of the
resources. All the bricks kilns are polluted the surrounding environment. Pollution effects
on soil, air, water, human being in the surrounding region. River channels changes due to
excavation of soil may cause flooding in the rainy season.
AIR POLLUTION
The air pollution is defined as the presence in the atmosphere of substances in such
amounts as to affect humans, vegetation, animals, or material adversely. On large scale
burning of fuels- coal, oil, gas etc. to supply energy to industries, households and means of
transportation is the main cause of air pollution. It is estimated that almost 90% of the air
pollution are related with the combustion of fuel. The major pollutants are particulate
matters (smoke, dust), gases (Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon
dioxide etc.), metals (e.g. lead) etc. Impact of pollution caused by small brick kilns located in
rural areas. Air pollution in these clusters affects the workers, local nearby residents as well
as crops in the surrounding area. The various categories of workers are working on brick
kilns, the firemen, bricks loaders and other worker which handle ash, has the maximum
contact to the pollutants. So they are suffering from various health problems. Inhaling of
these pollutants causes irritation of skin and eyes and can cause pulmonary diseases such as
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200 Environment Conservation, Challenges Threats in Conservation of Biodiversity

pneumoconiosis and silicosis, which are caused by inhaling siliceous dust. Pollution also has
an effect on agricultural crops. Emission of huge quantity of poisonous

Fig. 4. Air & Soil Pollution

Elements from brick kilns is causing serious health hazards. The brick kilns release
poisonous gas containing floating particulate matters rich in carbon particles and high
concentration of carbon monoxides and oxides of sulphur that are harmful to eye, lungs and
throat. The brick field owners have been burning bricks with fire woods. As a result a large
number of trees are being fallen.
SOIL POLLUTION
Soil is one of the basic and most important elements in brick manufacturing. Hence
manufacturing setup is established at places where soil can be easily available. In a Umbraj
Soil is important raw material; quality of soil is good then the bricks are also good. Soil is
main important raw material in brick kilns. Umbraj village is situated in the Krishna river
basin. Krishna river basin is main source of soil. Umbraj and surrounding village have
availability of soil for brick industry. The important source of the soil is river basin. Krishna
and Tarali have very fine good quality of soil deposition. The frequent flooding is
responsible for such kind of soil deposition along the river banks. The Kiln owner import
soil from the river basins as these sites are located along the banks of river basin. Soil
excavation is one kind of over exploitation of the natural resources. It affects not only the
soil erosion but also affects the river channel. In some parts of the river basin it is found that
meandering of river is distracted and hence river channel shifted. It may responsible for
encroachment of river course on cultivable land.
WATER POLLUTION
In the brick forming process it needs valuable material like coal and bagasse. At the end of
brick forming ash and unburned particles of coal, bagasse and radish burned soils particles
remains which easily mixed in river water, though the quality of water is changed up to
some level. The degradation in water bodies and water driven bodies become a very serious
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Environment Conservation, Challenges Threats in Conservation of Biodiversity 201

matter because water is supposed a life for everyone. The drinking water source in the
study region is only surface water flow through various rivers. The river environment is
degradation by nature and man. The degradation water bank affects not only personal
health but the social health.

Fig. 5. Water Pollution

SUGGESTION
Suggestions to overcome problems are following-
1) Brick Kilns must be away from the habitat area.
2) To create awareness of environmental pollution.
3) Medical facilities should be provided to labor.
4) All the information about labors must be kept by the owner.
5) Child labor should not be kept on the work.
6) To create awareness of education for the children at the site.
7) Make educational provision for the children at the site.
8) The technology adopted for making fly ash bricks is eco-friendly.
CONCULUSION
As the result were found that most of the people around the bricks kiln was more concern
about the soil and air pollution. People are suffering or facing breath problem, nasal
problem, eye burning and other diseases. Brick kilns production of different toxic pollutant
components for air pollution and human hazards. People are suffering with diseases like
respiratory, nasal cognition, burning of eyes and loss of visibility, which accelerated many
accidents on that particular area due to brick kilns. Some of the ash is carried by flue gases.
It is possible to mix a part of the fuel in the powdered form with the clay during clay
preparation. This fuel is referred as internal fuel as it is present inside the brick. As the brick
is heated in the kiln, combustion of internal fuel takes place. However, in this case as the
fuel particles are entrapped in the brick, the ash associated with them remains inside the
brick and does not come out. This helps in reducing the pollution. Use of good quality
agriculture soil in large quantities for brick making is also a grave area of concern. In
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202 Environment Conservation, Challenges Threats in Conservation of Biodiversity

geographical regions having thin topsoil, this result in reduction in the productivity of land
and in extreme cases the land does not remain fit for agriculture use. To reduce this wastage
some steps can be taken. At present only top surface (3 to 10 ft) is utilized for brick making,
resulting in large surface area being affected due to digging of soil for brick making. So
deep mining of clay can reduce the area affected due to dig of soil for brick making.
Promoting use of waste materials such as fly ash, boiler ash, stone dust etc. can reduce to
use of good quality agriculture soil in brick making. All this mentioned measures would
require mechanization of some of the processes in brick making. Development of suitable
low cost machinery for making perforated/hollow products as well as support for
popularizing these products on large scale are essential for reducing wastage of agriculture
soil in brick making. The degradation of environment by bricks making process is very
serious matter because Global health is most important for everyone. That there are bad
effects of these bricks making process on soil, water, air, vegetation and human health. The
environment is degraded by the bricks making process and the result of this degradation is
to be studies in various angles so that some remedial planning can be suggested. The bricks
making process affects not only environment but also human health. Such type of study can
be path to find remedies.
REFERENCE
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2. Dr. Hemant Pednekar.,(2007) Environment and Substantiation development
3. Dr. Parakash Sawant.,(2013) Soil Geography
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5. Dr. Shailaja Sangade., (2013)Environment and Society
6. Dr. Sunil Mayi.,(1998) Social Problem of India
7. Dr. Vijay Marulakar ., (2014) Social Problems in India
8. Environmental Studies., (2005)University Grants Commission
9. Environmental Studies.,(2013)Shivaji University, Kolhapur
10. Gopahane B.N.,(2013).,Environmental Degradation of River Krishna in Maharashtra – A
Geographical Study.
11. Prof. P. K. Kulkarni., (2015) Industrial Sociology
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13. Rizwana Khan and Harish Vyas.,(2008): A study of impact of Bricks Industries on Environment
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