Illegal brick kilns cause severe pollution

Arable lands and fruit trees badly affected

Unauthorised brick kilns are responsible for severe environmental hazards in Melandaha upazila of district.

Sources said four brick kilns, set up in Bazaraddi village, and four others in Burunga village under Nayanagar union in Melandaha upazila, are badly polluting the area.

Among these brick kilns, two are of Nawab Bricks and two belong to SSS Bricks (in Bazaraddi village) while in Burunga village, two are of Badsha Bricks and two of KMM Bricks.

The smoke emitted from the eight brick kilns are severely affecting the environment in the adjacent 12 villages of the upazila.

Sources complained that the owners of the brick kilns are using the plough pan (topsoil) of arable fields to make bricks. As a result, the fertility of agricultural land is also being eroded.

Some farmers have been compelled to sell earth to the brick kiln because the removal of the topsoil in adjacent lands has meant that their fields, too, have lost their levels and have been damaged as these cannot carry water during irrigation.  The farmers of Udna Para—Zahurul Haque, Abdullah and Wadud—who were forced to sell the topsoil of their farmlands—explained that if a farmer sells the topsoil, the level of the adjacent land becomes high, and in such cases irrigation is not possible on the higher land.

Soil Resource Development Institute scientific officer Rafeza Begum, too, said: “Crops grow in the plough pan, which is fertile land.

If the plough pan is removed, the production of crops would

dwindle.”

Again, the brick manufacturers are also burning wood in brick fields in clear violation of a governmental ban.

The impact of pollution hampers cultivation in Bazraddi Para, Nayapara, Udna Para, Bani Pakuria, Burunga, Gangapara, Malancha, Senna, Fulsenna, Laxmipur, Mama Bhagina and Betmary villages in the upazila.

Farmer Abdur Rahim of Udnapara village said fruit-bearing trees are gradually losing their fruits as a result of the black smoke from the brickfields. The flowering of trees is declining before they bear fruit, he added.

Another farmer of the village, Gunu Miah, too, said the yield of paddy has decreased to a great extent because of the smoke.

He said people are being affected by smoke and suffering from various diseases. He too, said, fruit and crop production has been hampered.

When contacted, the owners of the brick kilns refused to talk about the matter.

Additional deputy commissioner M Rasel Sabrin said no permission has been given to set up brick kilns in agricultural land and dwelling areas.

Legal action would be taken against the brick field operators after carrying out an investigation, he promised.

 

Illegal brick kilns cause severe pollution

Arable lands and fruit trees badly affected

Unauthorised brick kilns are responsible for severe environmental hazards in Melandaha upazila of district. Sources said four brick kilns, set up in Bazaraddi village, and four others in Burunga village under Nayanagar union in Melandaha upazila, are badly polluting the area. Among these brick kilns, two are of Nawab Bricks and two belong to SSS Bricks (in Bazaraddi village) while in Burunga village, two are of Badsha Bricks and two of KMM Bricks. The smoke emitted from the eight brick kilns are severely affecting the environment in the adjacent 12 villages of the upazila. Sources complained that the owners of the brick kilns are using the plough pan (topsoil) of arable fields to make bricks. As a result, the fertility of agricultural land is also being eroded. Some farmers have been compelled to sell earth to the brick kiln because the removal of the topsoil in adjacent lands has meant that their fields, too, have lost their levels and have been damaged as these cannot carry water during irrigation. The farmers of Udna ParaZahurul Haque, Abdullah and Wadudwho were forced to sell the topsoil of their farmlandsexplained that if a farmer sells the topsoil, the level of the adjacent land becomes high, and in such cases irrigation is not possible on the higher land. Soil Resource Development Institute scientific officer Rafeza Begum, too, said: Crops grow in the plough pan, which is fertile land. If the plough pan is removed, the production of crops would dwindle. Again, the brick manufacturers are also burning wood in brick fields in clear violation of a governmental ban. The impact of pollution hampers cultivation in Bazraddi Para, Nayapara, Udna Para, Bani Pakuria, Burunga, Gangapara, Malancha, Senna, Fulsenna, Laxmipur, Mama Bhagina and Betmary villages in the upazila. Farmer Abdur Rahim of Udnapara village said fruit-bearing trees are gradually losing their fruits as a result of the black smoke from the brickfields. The flowering of trees is declining before they bear fruit, he added. Another farmer of the village, Gunu Miah, too, said the yield of paddy has decreased to a great extent because of the smoke. He said people are being affected by smoke and suffering from various diseases. He too, said, fruit and crop production has been hampered. When contacted, the owners of the brick kilns refused to talk about the matter. Additional deputy commissioner M Rasel Sabrin said no permission has been given to set up brick kilns in agricultural land and dwelling areas. Legal action would be taken against the brick field operators after carrying out an investigation, he promised.