Sylhet Correspondent :
The factories usually produce rice husk briquettes, commonly known as charcoal, which are widely used as alternative cooking fuel in the rural areas of Sylhet. Small retailers and poor household use these briquettes mostly due to the unavailability of gas. Comparatively cheap and easily available, briquettes are also smokeless and heat more quickly than coal or wood.
The main ingredient of producing this fuel is the rice husk, the hard cover that protects the rice grain, found as a by-product after the milling process. Because of the existence of a number of rice mills in the Sheikhghat area, many entrepreneurs have set up a number of charcoal factories without any supervision of the government.
Although the briquettes are considered a great source of bio-fuel, they have now become a great concern in the area because the poor quality of the end product and the factory.
More than 40 charcoal factories, which have sprouted recently in the Sheikhghat area of Sylhet town defying environmental regulations are posing a health risk to the residents of the area.
Doctors have opined that the inhabitants, especially the children and elderly, are at risk of asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and other such diseases. The heavy smoke produced by the low-rising chimneys of the factories are blamed for this situation.
Residents of the area alleged that the whole neighbourhood suffers from the smoke created by these factories. All throughout the day, the factories continue to emit heavy smoke making life difficult.
Babul Mia, a restaurant owner said he had been suffering from respiratory problems because of the smoke. ‘The city mayor, deputy commissioner and other concerned authorities have been notified about the matter. But no action has been taken as yet,” he said.
According to the environment regulation, the chimneys of the factories should be 40 feet high. But in reality, chimneys of most of the factories are between 10 to 20 feet high.
Some residents, on anonymity, said because of the low-rise chimneys heavy black smoke lingered in the air like fog all day. Many workers of these factories were suffering from chronic diseases, they alleged.
Even the owners of the factories expressed the same sentiment. Haji Md Yasin of Ms Faiyyan Charcoal Mill said: ‘If the chimneys were built according to the prescribed height, the smoke would not have been a problem. I am also a sufferer because of this.’
Dr Tonmoy Bhattacharya, recently retired deputy director of Osmani Medical College Hospital said many people from Sheikhghat area had come to him with respiratory problems. ‘The smoke from the factories can cause bronchitis, asthma and other critical diseases. Moreover, many important establishments like hospitals and schools situated in the area are also facing air pollution. The health risk posed by these factories cannot be overlooked.’
Director of the Department of Environment, Salah Uddin Chowdhury told that the factories in the area were very old and they had been operating without licences. ‘We often get complaints about these factories. It is true that the chimneys of the factories should be higher than 40 feet according to the regulation. We will see what steps can be taken in this regard.’
The factories usually produce rice husk briquettes, commonly known as charcoal, which are widely used as alternative cooking fuel in the rural areas of Sylhet. Small retailers and poor household use these briquettes mostly due to the unavailability of gas. Comparatively cheap and easily available, briquettes are also smokeless and heat more quickly than coal or wood.
The main ingredient of producing this fuel is the rice husk, the hard cover that protects the rice grain, found as a by-product after the milling process. Because of the existence of a number of rice mills in the Sheikhghat area, many entrepreneurs have set up a number of charcoal factories without any supervision of the government.
Although the briquettes are considered a great source of bio-fuel, they have now become a great concern in the area because the poor quality of the end product and the factory.
More than 40 charcoal factories, which have sprouted recently in the Sheikhghat area of Sylhet town defying environmental regulations are posing a health risk to the residents of the area.
Doctors have opined that the inhabitants, especially the children and elderly, are at risk of asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and other such diseases. The heavy smoke produced by the low-rising chimneys of the factories are blamed for this situation.
Residents of the area alleged that the whole neighbourhood suffers from the smoke created by these factories. All throughout the day, the factories continue to emit heavy smoke making life difficult.
Babul Mia, a restaurant owner said he had been suffering from respiratory problems because of the smoke. ‘The city mayor, deputy commissioner and other concerned authorities have been notified about the matter. But no action has been taken as yet,” he said.
According to the environment regulation, the chimneys of the factories should be 40 feet high. But in reality, chimneys of most of the factories are between 10 to 20 feet high.
Some residents, on anonymity, said because of the low-rise chimneys heavy black smoke lingered in the air like fog all day. Many workers of these factories were suffering from chronic diseases, they alleged.
Even the owners of the factories expressed the same sentiment. Haji Md Yasin of Ms Faiyyan Charcoal Mill said: ‘If the chimneys were built according to the prescribed height, the smoke would not have been a problem. I am also a sufferer because of this.’
Dr Tonmoy Bhattacharya, recently retired deputy director of Osmani Medical College Hospital said many people from Sheikhghat area had come to him with respiratory problems. ‘The smoke from the factories can cause bronchitis, asthma and other critical diseases. Moreover, many important establishments like hospitals and schools situated in the area are also facing air pollution. The health risk posed by these factories cannot be overlooked.’
Director of the Department of Environment, Salah Uddin Chowdhury told that the factories in the area were very old and they had been operating without licences. ‘We often get complaints about these factories. It is true that the chimneys of the factories should be higher than 40 feet according to the regulation. We will see what steps can be taken in this regard.’
