Policy-Level Interventions in Bihar to Achieve
Carbon Neutral Targets  

Bihar, located in the eastern region of India, has been at the forefront of efforts to promote a clean and green environment. Under the guidance of the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), the state government has implemented numerous initiatives to tackle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other pollutants. To limit Bihar’s GHG emissions and create a sustainable road map to reduce carbon emissions by 2070 from the industrial sector of the state, BSPCB has identified specific industries and the construction sector to conduct GHG inventories. The industries identified include Sugar Mills, Cement Plants, Rolling Mills, Distilleries, Rice Mills, Hot Mix Plants, Food Processing, Calcined Petroleum Coke, and the Brick sector. The approach to developing the GHG inventory for this major sector in the state draws upon the delineation of Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. In this article, we present the analysis of the GHG emissions done for the brick, rolling mill, and sugar sectors. The analysis for other sectors is under process.

Brick Sector

In the context of the building materials sector, brickmaking plays a crucial role in Bihar’s economy. According to secondary reports, brick making provides employment opportunities to a considerable number of the population in Bihar and contributes nearly a quarter of the state’s gross domestic product (SGDP). Majority of the brick kilns have been converted to cleaner technologies, such as zig-zag kilns; a few are still running under Fixed Chimney Bull’s Trench Kiln (FCBTK) technology. As per the GHG calculations, the total emission calculated from this sector is quite high based on the analysis conducted. The analysis for the industry sector has been done for rolling mill and sugar mill. Based on the analysis, the rolling mills are emissions are high and the sugar sector is a comparatively greener sector as the sugar mills have the advantage of selling green power to the grid using biogas generation from their operations.

The policy-level recommendations that could be implemented in the state for achieving its Nationally Setermined Contribution (NDC) targets in the case of the brick sector can be based on introducing different technologies, such as hollow, perforated bricks, and full conversion to fly ash brick technology, as this could be a step towards lowering emissions. Also extensive training and capacity-building on the best practices of cleaner technologies should be conducted for workers, kiln construction contractors, operators, and entrepreneurs. Based on the industry-related recommendations to reduce the emissions, various policies based on the technological advancements can be explored, including direct reduced iron (DRI), efficient furnace designs, and scrap metal-based furnaces. These advancements could be incentivised which can support the implementation as needed. Greening of the electricity grid by making effective utilisation of renewable energy sources can also be effective. In the sugar mill sector, Bihar has the advantage of utilising bagasse as a renewable energy source, providing back energy to the power grids.

The Way to a Greener Environment

Bihar has taken significant steps to promote a cleaner environment and mitigate GHG emissions. The state government has implemented various initiatives targeting different sectors, including the brick, rolling mill, and sugar industries. Fly Ash Brick (FAB) production and comprehensive training and capacity-building have also been encouraged to promote the adoption of cleaner technologies. Regarding the rolling mill sector, the commissioning of fully integrated mills capable of hot charging is proposed to reduce coal and electricity consumption. The electricity sector is encouraged to invest in renewable energy sources, while carbon capture measures can further contribute to lowering GHG emissions. In the sugar mill sector, Bihar has the advantage of utilising bagasse as a renewable energy source, providing energy to the power grids. Overall, Bihar’s efforts to address GHG emissions and promote sustainable practices in these industries align with the state’s commitment to a cleaner environment and contribute to the national goals outlined for achieving states’ carbon neutrality targets by 2070.