Brick fields violate law with impunity

Kilns burn rubber tyres and firewood as fuel instead of coal

Brick kilns here are burning rubber tyres and wood instead of coal, violating with impunity the law framed by the government to control brick manufacturing and the set-up of brick fields in 2013. The law was enacted to protect the environment and biodiversity.
There is a total of 51 brick fields in the five upazilas of the district—Sadar, Baliadangi, Ranisankail, Pirganj and Haripur. Barring some scientifically constructed kilns, the owners are illegally using rubber tyres and firewood as fuel. These include, for instance, JMB brick field at Mondolpara village and RUS bricks and MS bricks at Yakubpur village under Thakurgaon Sadar upazila.
Not only that, the owners of some brick kilns are still using drum chimneys, which the government banned around 10 years ago. The smoke emitted through the chimneys of the brick fields badly pollutes the environment.
Again, most of these brick kilns are situated in villages where thousands live. Villagers have naturally been suffering from different diseases caused by the toxic smoke emanating from the brick kilns. This smoke has also damaged crops and mango, litchi, jackfruit, coconut, betel-nut and other trees. As a result, the production of different crops and fruits are dwindling day by day.
Also, the operators of the brick kilns have been manufacturing bricks by denuding arable lands of their topsoil, which is now seriously threatening the agricultural sector.
The acting deputy director of the Department of Environment (DoE) (Rangpur zone), Aktaruzzaman, said, "The brick fields in Thakurgaon are not abiding by the laws. Most of these are burning rubber tyres and wood, which is strictly prohibited."
Thakurgaon Brick Field Owners' Association president Murad Hossain admitted that some brick field owners were burning rubber tyres and wood instead of coal. “We are trying to solve the matter. We had filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the law, and the HC postponed the execution of the law till April 2016. But even after that time period, the brick kiln owners have been burning wood and tyres. We will fine the brick owners and punish them,” he explained.
Deputy commissioner Abdul Awal said mobile courts could not be formed for raiding the brick fields due to the recent municipal elections. “But the drives would be launched soon,” he promised.
Many local residents of Thakurgaon have urged the government to take stern action against those brick kiln owners who are defying the government and its rules in such a manner.

 

Brick fields violate law with impunity

Kilns burn rubber tyres and firewood as fuel instead of coal

Brick kilns here are burning rubber tyres and wood instead of coal, violating with impunity the law framed by the government to control brick manufacturing and the set-up of brick fields in 2013. The law was enacted to protect the environment and biodiversity. There is a total of 51 brick fields in the five upazilas of the districtSadar, Baliadangi, Ranisankail, Pirganj and Haripur. Barring some scientifically constructed kilns, the owners are illegally using rubber tyres and firewood as fuel. These include, for instance, JMB brick field at Mondolpara village and RUS bricks and MS bricks at Yakubpur village under Thakurgaon Sadar upazila. Not only that, the owners of some brick kilns are still using drum chimneys, which the government banned around 10 years ago. The smoke emitted through the chimneys of the brick fields badly pollutes the environment. Again, most of these brick kilns are situated in villages where thousands live. Villagers have naturally been suffering from different diseases caused by the toxic smoke emanating from the brick kilns. This smoke has also damaged crops and mango, litchi, jackfruit, coconut, betel-nut and other trees. As a result, the production of different crops and fruits are dwindling day by day. Also, the operators of the brick kilns have been manufacturing bricks by denuding arable lands of their topsoil, which is now seriously threatening the agricultural sector. The acting deputy director of the Department of Environment (DoE) (Rangpur zone), Aktaruzzaman, said, The brick fields in Thakurgaon are not abiding by the laws. Most of these are burning rubber tyres and wood, which is strictly prohibited. Thakurgaon Brick Field Owners Association president Murad Hossain admitted that some brick field owners were burning rubber tyres and wood instead of coal. We are trying to solve the matter. We had filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the law, and the HC postponed the execution of the law till April 2016. But even after that time period, the brick kiln owners have been burning wood and tyres. We will fine the brick owners and punish them, he explained. Deputy commissioner Abdul Awal said mobile courts could not be formed for raiding the brick fields due to the recent municipal elections. But the drives would be launched soon, he promised. Many local residents of Thakurgaon have urged the government to take stern action against those brick kiln owners who are defying the government and its rules in such a manner.