Kathmandu, May 27 -- While growing up in Chaymasingh, Bhaktapur, Bikram Prajapati experienced the adverse effects of dust and smoke from the brick kilns on environment and human health first-hand. So, for his final year thesis before graduating as a mechanical engineer, he made a blueprint for the process of extracting dust from crushed stones. But it took him another seven years to put this theory into action.

Prajapati now owns Bajra Brick and Tile Industry Pvt Ltd, a company producing bricks that are lightweight, low water-absorbent and, most importantly, smoke and dust-free.

Bajra Brick is in the market to bring greener ways to the trade, so its brick-making process does not follow the traditional process. The bricks aren't made fro...