Khulna (South) Correspondent :
Burning wood almost at all brick kilns is going on unabated in Khulna at random.
Most of the brick kilns of Khulna have been devouring wood violating environmental law. There are around 150 brick fields at nine upazilas areas of Khulna. Among them 11 have no release letters of the Environment Directorate and 8 brick kilns are running with old chimneys, sources said.
It is alleged that some influentials have built brick fields where wood and lead have been being burnt violating the environmental law and as such the environment is polluting alarmingly.
Allegation has also recently brought against a brick field named Sun Bricks Industries, located at Hazigram in Digholia upazila of Khulna adjacent to the Atai River which has allegedly been conducting their business illegally and violating Environmental Law. The brick field has been being run without taking license from the district administration and release letter from the Directorate of Environment since around 12 years. On a recent spot visit, this correspondent found that logs are being burnt in this brick kiln at random and huge logs were piled in front of the brick field.
According to the environmental law, brick kilns must be built beyond at least three kilometers away from the locality. But it is found that most of the brick kilns were built upon crop lands at all nine upazila areas of Khulna district. Some influential persons have built brick fields by grabbing lands beside the rivers.
Earlier , cases were lodged on February 6, 2017 against New Super bricks and United bricks of Phultala, Noorjahan bricks, AB bricks, Shetu bricks and Al Amin bricks of Dumuria upazila area due to on availability of proper licenses and for making sub standard bricks. Besides, Yasbi bricks, Hasan bricks and Rabeya bricks of Dumuria upazila area have been conducting their business without taking licenses.
Apart from this, recently (On February 14., 2022) a mobile court led by Shikder Shahinur Alam, assistant director of Khulna district consumers’ rights preservation directorate conducted drives at two brick fields at Kulbaria area in Dumuria upazila of Khulna district while Taka 45 thousands fined to the two brick fields named M/S Allahr Dan Bricks and M/S Bahar Bricks for violating law.
Md. Maruf Billah, Inspector of Environment Directorate, Khulna said., Lists of legal brick fields were published in the website .
Md. Abdul Wadud, UNO of Dumuria said, we have put red flags as demarcation.
Abdus Sattar , General Secretary of Khulna district brick fields owners association said, I don’t know how some brick fields are being conducted violating the directives of High Court.
Drives often conduct against the illegal brick field owners but after a few days they begin their business as usual. Wood is being burnt in these brick fields continuously for which the environment is polluting.
Local people of Khornia area under Dumuria upazila alleged that most of the brick field owners have been using wood and lead foe which the environment is polluting.
Some farmers of the same area said, due to making brick fields upon the crop lands, crops are being victimized with massive harms.
Some brick field owners said, they are trying to take licenses and they are burning wood less than the previous periods.
Local people said the five brick kilns are being conducted without any hesitation due to negligence of the Forest Department, Environment Department, District Administration and law enforcers.
Sources said around 6 lakh tones of trees are being burnt in the brick kilns. In the last six months a total of 25 metric tones of woods were burnt and as a result the forest is being deforested in this way. At present at least 2000 maunds to 10,000 maunds logs are piled in front of each brick kilns.
It is alleged that the brick kiln owners are burning trees after managing the concerned authorities and influential political leaders since long.
Every year in winter, the illegal kilns begin to operate, local alleged.
Toxic emission from the kilns is posing a great threat to the environment and its inhabitants, said an environmentalist.
