Brick kilns running with illegal drum chimneys are still continuing their business without environmental clearances in Gafargaon. PHOTO: TDM
Six out of 29 brick kilns are running with illegal drum chimneys made of teen while the owners of other brick kilns are still continuing their business without environmental clearances in Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh.
Ignoring the government rules, hundreds of tons of wood are being burned in the furnaces of those brick kilns instead of coal. Black smokes that are billowing out of these brick kilns illegally set up near the residential area and crop fields are severely damaging air quality and overall environment of the adjacent areas.
It is known that 29 brick kilns have been running in the upazila this season. Even one of the 16 brick kilns of Niguari Union of the upazila does not have a permit from the Department of Environment. However, only one kiln M/s Parvez Enterprises is closed.
The owners installed prohibited such chimneys which did not follow the type or height. As a result, the level of air pollution is many times higher in adjacent area.
Meanwhile resident of Kurchai village Sabuj Mia has started construction of another drum chimney running brick kiln.
It has been found that almost all the brick kilns have been built disregarding government rules.
According to the Brick Burning Control Act, it is illegal to set up brick kilns within a three-kilometer area around residential areas, upazila headquarters and orchards. But most of the brick kilns in the upazila are located in densely populated areas and besides agricultural land. Dark smoke emitted by the brick kiln are easily spreading in the locality and the farm.
Some brick kilns in Panchua, Pukhuria, Chhota Barihati, Makhal, Chakua, Patilashi, Kurchai, Niguari, Sheikhvita, Makhal, Bakul Tala, Datterbazar areas of the upazila have been visited to see hundreds of woods being used for preparing bricks. However, in front of these brick kilns, a small amount of coal was also found, which is of very low quality.
As a result of burning bricks with wood in the brick kilns of drum chimneys, thick clouds of black smoke are coming out of low-height tin-made chimneys, as a result of which the surrounding crops are gradually discoloring. Upazila's tree resources are being destroyed due to illegal use of wood in brick kilns.
Basher Mia, 50, of Niguari village said, “There is a problem in agriculture due to the installation of brick kilns on agricultural land. The toxic fumes are causing severe damage to paddy fields and paddy production.
Rumen Akand, the owner of M/s BAB brickworks located at Patilashi village, said, “Such violation of rules are same all over the country. You are free to write whatever you like. This would not hamper our production.’’
Blatantly he has said, “We have a strong association of brick kiln owners. This association takes care of everything whatever we have done.’’
Dilruba Ahmed, Mymensingh divisional director of the Department of Environment, told The Daily Messenger, “We have already demolished several illegal brick kilns in Gofargaon. Steps are being taken to stop the remaining illegal brick kilns. Legal action will be taken against those who burn wood in brick kilns. We are trying to interact with the brick kiln owners to encourage them for running auto brick kiln and block brick making kiln.
TDM/SD
