The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak today ordered a crackdown on unlicenced retailers selling bricks in the state. He also ordered the introduction of an online registration system for the renewal of brick licences.
Disclosing this, a spokesperson of the Punjab Government said that the Minister today met a delegation of brick kiln owners who apprised them of all the problems being faced by them in running their business. The main grouse of the delegation was that a large number of unauthorised shops are operating at many places in the border districts and these are actively engaged in selling bricks of poor quality at cheap rates, which is adversely affecting the normal business of the brick kilns who are doing their business with dedication. Appreciating the concerns of the delegation, the Minister ordered a crackdown on all unlicenced shops operating in the state and directed the department to enforce these directions within the next two weeks.
The spokesperson added that the Minister directed the department to simplify the procedure for renewal of brick kiln licences by allowing the owners to apply for a consolidated licence of five years, which is expected to come as a major relief to the industry which at present does the rounds of offices every year for renewal.
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Appreciating the concerns of the industry regarding the irregular supply of coal the Minister assured that he would take up the matter with the Department of Industries to ensure that there is no shortage of coal in the state. The Minister also assured that the demand of the brick industry to use paddy stubble as fuel would be taken up with PPCB for early resolution.
