Tripura’s brick manufacturing sector is staring at a major crisis after coal supplies from neighbouring Meghalaya and other sources came to a halt over the past 15 days, leaving kiln owners struggling to keep operations going.
Vivekananda Choudhury, president of the Tripura Brick Kiln Association, said the industry depends almost entirely on coal and there is currently no alternative system, such as rail transport, to bring the fuel into the state.
“Not a single truck loaded with coal has entered Tripura in the last two weeks,” Choudhury said at a meeting attended by kiln owners from across the state.
With existing stocks running low, several kilns have already shut down, while others are operating on whatever reserves they have left. He warned that if fresh supplies are not arranged soon, most units may be forced to stop work within a week.
Tripura has nearly 300 brick kilns, a sector that not only supplies construction materials across the state but also provides employment to a large number of workers. Production, however, has dropped sharply due to the dual challenges of coal scarcity and a shortage of skilled labour.
“Many workers from Bihar, who make up a significant part of our workforce, have not returned this season. That has made matters worse,” Choudhury told reporters.
Kiln owners say they were already under financial strain because of falling sales and earlier high coal prices. The sudden disruption in supply has now pushed many units to the brink.
The Association has appealed to the state government for immediate intervention, seeking alternative supply arrangements or other support measures to prevent a widespread shutdown and heavy financial losses across the sector.