Our Correspondent, Ishwardi :
In the current season, bricks are being produced in 50 out of 56 kilns in different areas of Ishwardi including Laxikunda Union. Of these kilns, at least 30/35 brick kilns are built on government khas land allotted in the name of Vumihin. The soil being used in these brick kilns is also being used by the official Padma river soil. Wood is being burned in almost every brick kiln. Bricks are being made in all kilns smaller than the size prescribed by the government. Ishradi Customs, Excise and VAT Circle Ishradi office does not have an account of all the kilns in the ledger. Bricks are being made and sold but the revenue is not being deposited in government offices. This will deprive the government of at least Tk 10 crore in revenue from Itwa alone this season. This information has been given in the allegation given by several responsible sources.
According to sources, bricks are being burnt in public with the thumbs up to the law and without any hesitation from the locals. Bricks are being burned openly in illegal brick kilns in densely populated areas, including crop lands, orchards and forest gardens, adjoining houses and roads. As land production is declining, the area’s forest resources are being depleted and losing its balance in the environment. On the other hand, burning bricks with wood increases the risk of colds, coughs and shortness of breath due to black smoke. Children and the elderly in particular are at health risk. Roads built with crores of rupees are also being destroyed due to the use of roads for transporting bricks and timber. Almost all the responsible people know about this. The iron bars erected at important points of various roads to protect the roads from LGED have also been demolished.
According to sources, the Ishwardi Customs, Excise and VAT Circle Ishwardi office does not have an account of all the evas in the register. Because if you keep an account of all the ebbs, there is no personal income. Money is illegally taken from the out-of-account ebb as per the contract. The government is in the throes of revenue evasion. The office has a secret agreement with the landlord owners. At the beginning of the season, the owners of the vats involved in the irregularities raised about Rs 19 lakh and distributed it among some responsible persons including the revenue officer of the customs. For this purpose, bricks made by burning wood using government soil and reducing the prescribed size were taken to the front of the customs office and sold in different areas including Ishwardi town but the customs officer did not take any action. Even no one else seems to have that much headache.
In different areas of Laxmikunda, bricks are being burnt in most of the kilns without the clearance of the Department of Environment. Due to illegal brick kilns, the upper part of crop agricultural lands, government canals and river soils are being dug illegally and used for making bricks. Similarly, different species of trees including mango, blackberry, jackfruit rentry, mahogany are being used for brick burning. There is no valid paperwork in all these illegally formed tides. The authorities are silent for mysterious reasons even though the dishonest owners openly burn bricks with wood without the permission of the concerned authorities. Although the government is in a strong position against this illegal kiln, the influential quarters of the area are managing the concerned officials to build houses and hats-bazaars, illegal brick kilns on the side of the road.
Several victims of Laxmikunda Union said on condition of anonymity that a few influential people from Hategona have been marketing the river every year by cutting down the river and burning wood to make bricks. They also have a contract with the customs office so that even if the vat owners continue to run the business recklessly, no one will have any problem. Due to the black smoke of illegal low tide fire in the crop land in front of the house, the leaves of the trees in the fruit and forest orchards turn black and the fruits are spoiled. I am also terrified to see bricks being made this year. I don’t know where I can stop burning bricks. He said he had heard that there was no point in making allegations against them..
When fires are started with wood at low tide, the black smoke increases the health risks including shortness of breath and the misery of traffic on the road. Meanwhile, the owners of those illegal kilns have denied all allegations and said that they are making and selling bricks legally. Not doing any kind of illegal work. In the meantime, three kilns have been demolished for illegally burning wood. Ishradi Upazila Engineer Enamul Kabir said five iron bars were constructed at important points in Laxmikunda and Sahapur Union at a cost of around Rs 100,000 to protect the roads constructed at a cost of around Rs 100 crore. He was shot dead in the dark of night for driving illegally.
Ishradi Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Acting Assistant Commissioner (VM) PM Imrul Kayes said there was no opportunity to comment on the matter without the permission of higher authorities.
