Agartala, February 16 Brick manufacturers in Tripura said on Monday that their units are facing a severe shortage of coal, and will have no choice but to close their kilns unless fuel supply is improved.
The president of the Tripura Brick Fields Manufacturing Association (TBFMA), Bivekananda Chowdhury, said the crisis is due to the disruption in coal supply from Meghalaya for the past two weeks.
He said a meeting of kiln owners was held on Monday to assess the situation.
Tripura has 280 operational brick kilns.
"We are facing a serious crisis as coal, the main fuel for our industry, has not been available for the last two weeks. Earlier, we used to procure coal from Meghalaya and other sources, but that supply has stopped. Neither coal-laden trucks are entering the state nor are we receiving any consignment through the railways," Chowdhury said.
The disruption in fuel supply from Meghalaya is due to an explosion in an illegal coal mine in the Thangsku area in the East Jaintia Hills district on February 5.
"All brick manufacturers have collectively decided that if coal is not arranged immediately, operations will have to be suspended. Without sufficient coal, there is no alternative left for us but to close our units," Chowdhury said.
He appealed to the government to intervene and arrange for coal transportation through railways or any other suitable mode to address the shortage.
Chowdhury also said that the industry is facing a shortage of skilled workers this season.
"Workers, who prepare the mixture to mould bricks, have not reported on time due to various reasons, including elections in Bihar, which have further disrupted our production," he said.