Kiln owners ask SMC to stop issuing notices

The kiln owners in Surat have asked the civic officials to defer issuing of notices for closure of their units. They warned the civic officials of strong demonstrations in the coming days if SMC continued issuing notices.

Surat Municipal Corporation had started issuing notices to the city kiln owners, after Supreme Court ordered the shifting of those kilns located in residential areas without a valid certificate from Gujarat Pollution Control Board. Till now, the civic body has issued notices to more than 300 kilns asking them to shift to outskirts of the city.

However, there are about 514 kilns in the city and majority of them are in central zone, the main residential area of the city.

The kiln owners recently gathered at SMC’s office and asked civic officials to stop their activity of issuing notices. They claimed that kilns are small cottage industries and family business firms unlike any big manufacturing units, where GPCB rules need to be followed. The president of kiln owners, Yashwant Soni, said, “This is utter harassment by the SMC officials as there are no kilns operational in residential areas.

These are jewellery workshops being targeted by the SMC. Moreover, SMC officials are demanding certificate from GPCB but the officials of GPCB are saying that the kilns don’t require any certificate and can continue working after getting a certificate from SMC.” Soni added that the shifting of remaining kilns will not only affect the business, but will also shift the employment opportunities of local people.