More than 50 illegal brick kilns in a single UP!

Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :

More than half a hundred illegal brick kilns have been built in Lakshikunda Union of Ishwardi. Although these brick kilns are sometimes raided and fined, the burning of bricks in the kilns does not stop. As a result, hundreds of bighas of agricultural land are being destroyed and the fertility of cropland is decreasing due to soil erosion. Crop production is declining with environmental damage. Burning of wood in kilns along with destruction of agricultural land, violation of regulations and environmental imbalance are being managed year after year without consideration. They don’t have environment department clearance, brick burning license, fire service certificate, income tax certificate. The owners of the mill are continuing the mill by showing the strength of their opinion.
These illegal brick kilns are sometimes raided in the presence of magistrate and police. Actions are limited to collection of fines. Even though this situation continued for a long time, the brick kiln was restarted due to unknown reasons, but it was not closed. Roads in that union and neighboring Sahapur union are in poor condition due to the transportation of bricks. Residents have complained that they are facing extreme hardship due to the collapse of the road. Meanwhile, owners of illegal brick kilns are trying to get legalization through VAT. The issue of VAT collection from land papers, environmental clearances, trade licenses, and illegal establishments established without the permission of the administration is questionable.
It is known that the topsoil of agricultural land is the source of brick kilns. Due to which hundreds of acres of land are falling and the agriculture sector is suffering. These illegal brick kilns have been set up in Lakshikunda on government private land and private land as well. The distance from Ishwardi Sadar to Lakshikunda Union is about 15 km. The Padma River is next to it. The union is known as remote and isolated area. Kiln owners benefited from the cheap availability of brick-making clay and firewood around the kilns. The kilns collect the soil by cutting Padma pasture land illegally for making bricks.
Locals, who did not wish to be named, said that most of the kiln owners did not follow the guidelines for the height of the chimney and related requirements for the construction of the kiln. Wood of various trees is burnt during the making of bricks. It emits black smoke, causing environmental pollution and damaging all kinds of plants. Police and administration officials come here with cars occasionally and raid 2-3 kilns and punish them with fine. After that, the brick making process starts again in the kiln.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Mita Sarkar said that the construction of numerous brick kilns in Lakshikunda union is causing damage to the agricultural land of the union. Due to the black smoke and ash of the wood, as well as vegetables, mango, litchi, jackfruit trees are being damaged, it is also having an adverse effect on the natural environment. Normal public life is increasingly under threat due to the effects of pollution. This activity needs to be stopped immediately.
Customs revenue officer Mohammad Zakir Hossain said, “It is not our responsibility to see the valid documents of anyone who has built a brick kiln on government land. It will also be seen whether privately owned brick kilns are running with the permission of the district administration and the brickyard.” Before this, VAT was not collected from brick kilns. We are collecting VAT within many limitations.