It is disturbing to note that 82 brick kilns have been set up in the last two years in greater Faridpur violating rules and regulations and destroying huge farmlands in the region. According to a report of this newspaper yesterday, owners of these brick kilns are running their business illegally threatening the ecosystem as there is no monitoring by the Department of Environment (DoE), Faridpur. Not only in Faridpur, there is no dearth of illegal brick kilns in different places of the country.

The brick kilns set up by unscrupulous people defying the existing law of the land are exposing the people living in those areas to serious health hazards on the one hand and contributing to destruction of the country’s forest resources on the other. A study based on the environment revealed that  every year hundreds of people die of diseases like asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory ailments triggered by air pollution caused by the smokes released by the brick kilns throughout the country. The brick kilns are also taking away fertility of arable lands. Most of the owners of brick kilns have been running their business without licences and are using firewood instead of coal and gas for burning bricks defying the government ban and environmental rules.   

Moreover, most of the brick kilns were set up near dwelling houses, croplands, and near forest defying the government ban. These brick kilns are spreading poison in the air and the people living nearby are bearing the brunt of the menace.   According to the law, a brick kiln cannot be set up within three kilometers of human settlement. But this law is being flouted outright. There are also clear instructions from the Department of Environment for setting up at least 60 feet chimney at a brick kiln. But most of the owners are not following this. Needy and gullible people in rural areas are selling their valuable trees not knowing its adverse impact on the environment. As a result, valuable fruit-bearing and wood trees are being cut down indiscriminately. The erratic behaviour of environment is due to the deforestation.

Manufacturing of bricks is needed for the development of the country. At the same time, issue of safe environment should also not be ignored.  The relevant authorities must take stringent measures against the errant brick kiln owners in the shortest possible time.