ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: It is hard to believe but a foreign-funded project that has proved its utility and profitability is facing shutdown because of the devil-may-care attitude in the officialdom.

The Swiss Development Corporation (SDC) funded the ‘vertical shaft brick kiln project’, an environment-friendly technique that uses less fuel and produces cheaper, harder bricks. But despite proving its worth in four years of successful trials, the project is likely to wound up in December due to lack of interest on part of the government, particularly the Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pak-Epa).

According to an official in the devolved Ministry of Environment, two vertical shaft brick kilns were installed at Loi Bhir and Adiala Road.

“The one in Loi Bhir was lost to land grabbers after the government failed to provide technical and financial support to protect the project,” said the official, explaining how the VSBK installed at Adiala Road had showed promising results over the last four years.

This state-of-the-art technology cost roughly Rs2.8 million compared to the traditional bull trench kilns (BTKs) that are almost half the price - Rs1.5 million.

However, the vertical shaft technology could run round the year with general maintenance for 25 years against the centuries-old brick kilns that lasted as less as four to five years despite regular maintenance and has to be rebuilt. In fact, the traditional brick kilns have to be shut down every time it rained.

According to officials with the project, bricks produced in the vertical shaft technology were far stronger with a crushing strength of 2,200 pound/square inch (PSI) compared to the 1,600 pound/square inch crushing strength bricks produced in BTKs.

“There is no match. It also offers perfect environment to workers who do not have to work under a scorching sun on the baking ground,” said Tahir Dar, one of the driving forces behind the project who is working with the SDC and Pak-Epa.

Among other reasons, he cited lack of interest on part of the government to save the project. However, he appreciated the Punjab government and Brick Kiln Association for coming on board.

“It’s difficult to change mindsets. People want more for themselves and nobody wants to pay for the environment,” he added.

Lamenting along the similar lines, SDC’s Arshad Gill added: “The concept is more than producing quality bricks. The technology is economically viable, energy efficient and above all reduces carbon emissions into the atmosphere.”

He said the country needed pilot projects and stronger legislation to do away with the centuries-old methods and more time for dissemination of the benefits.

With the help of SDC, operations of the traditional bull trench kilns have been modified through small technological innovations, said Arshad Gill.

The hazards of more than 200 traditional brick kilns around Islamabad stretched beyond the flight paths of inbound aircraft and into settlements with direct impacts on health from black smoke from chimneys.

Environmentalists were convinced that VSBK was a success story and the solution to protect Islamabad and the country’s deteriorating environment.