Mirzapur: Subhash Chandra Singh, a farmer from Fatehpur village in the Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh, has achieved a remarkable feat by utilizing electricity to create bricks. It is astonishing to hear that electricity and solar power are the key elements in his brick-making process.

Subhash Chandra Singh mentioned that he conceived this idea back in 2011 while working at Hindalco, where he learned how to maintain precise temperature control. In the year 2015, he started with his own project This brick-making technology not only conserves fuel but also reduces pollution.

Quitting the job

After completing his studies till grade 10, he found employment at Hindalco in Renukoot. Subhash Chandra Singh learned about the harmful effects resulting from brick kilns. In 2015, he decided to resign from his job and turn his pollution-mitigation idea into a reality. During the same year, he reached out to the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, presenting his technology's potential to reduce pollution from brick kilns. Subhash's innovative idea was also discussed at IIT and BHU. 

Patent with IIT and BHU’s support

After facing initial setbacks at IIT-BHU, Subhash Chandra Singh took a break and found himself back at home. During this period, he used his own funds to demonstrate the effectiveness of his design at a local brick kiln in his village. The positive results boosted his enthusiasm, leading him to approach IFFCO for patent assistance. Then, he met with the District Magistrate (DM) of Mirzapur in 2017, and once again, his patent application was submitted to IIT-BHU.

Saving fuel

At IIT-BHU, Subhash conducted an experiment which demonstrated a remarkable 42 percent reduction in fuel consumption for brick baking. As a result of these efforts and with the support of BHU, the patent for his innovative technology was finally granted in February 2022.

Subhash Chandra Singh emphasizes that conventional brick kilns burn fuel up to 12 feet high, generating high temperatures and causing excessive pollution. Furthermore, he shares that the unique design of his model only requires 600 kg of fuel as compared to typical brick kilns. This not only leads to substantial fuel savings but also significantly reduces pollution.

Setting up a plant

Recently, Subhash Chandra Singh made the decision to sell a portion of his land to establish a plant for making bricks using electricity. His innovative approach earned him recognition, as he was awarded a prize of Rs 25,000 at the recent Startup Samvad 2.0 event held at Dr. Abdul Kalam Technical University in Lucknow.

Using four heaters, he managed to produce approximately 100 bricks in just 4 hours. Notably, his design is versatile, capable of running on solar power as well. His model was also awarded the Best Idea Award on the 85th anniversary of IFFCO in 2017.