Jammu-based brick kiln are struggling against a labour crisis, especially after the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 27 people, mostly tourists, were killed.
Brick kiln owners say labourers have returned to their hometowns following India-Pakistan tension.
“Though the border situation is getting normal and tension has eased, the labourers working in the brick kilns have not returned,” said Vabhishan Singh, former president, Jammu Province Brick Kiln Owners Association.
“Days following the border tension saw not even a single brick being manufactured, which added to the financial losses,” Singh said.
In Jammu Province (10 districts), he said, there are 273 brick kilns out of which around 100 are in Jammu district.
“Each kiln on an average manufactures 60 to 70 lakhs of bricks in the peak season from April to June depending on the weather conditions,” said Singh.
He said since April 22 shifting of labourers, each brick kiln owner has suffered a loss of at least 15 lakh bricks. “Labourers have not returned yet so many brick kilns are not functioning. On the other hand, we are facing the demand pressure,” Singh said.
All brick kilns in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir were to be converted under the Supreme Court-approved Zig-Zag technology by February 2025. The adoption of this technology will help in reducing the harmful emissions.
