Mushroom growth of unauthorized brick kilns in Harinakundu upazila of Jhenaidah could not be checked as the officials of the directorate of environment (DOE) were not playing any role in taking legal steps against the masterminds for years.
Neither they have any permission from the directorate of environment, nor any licence from the district administration in Jhenaidah. Further, the drives conducted by DoE, in Jhenaidah was not adequate to refrain the dishonest traders from carrying out the illegal activities, said the locals.
Locals said the number of brick kilns in Harinakundu upazila of Jhenaidah was 18, of which five were not recognised by the DoE and licenced by the district administration. The brick kilns were MSB Itbhata owned by Harinakundu upazila Itbhata Malik Samity general secretary Hannan Ali Khan, RSB Bricks owned by Babul Hossain Khan, Anisa and Tanisa Bricks, Milon and Jannat Bricks at Hakimapur and AJB bricks at Parmathurapur area of the upazila.
During a visit to the brick kilns this correspondent witnessed huge stockpile of mango, berry, raintree, date tree, bamboo roots, cocoanut and some other fruit bearing, timber and medicinal trees kept for burning as fuel in the kilns as against the coal there. The kilns have been discharging huge black smoking. The smoke, sand and dust of the kilns have been polluting the nearby croplands and roadside houses round the clock. Huge top soil was also seen at the brick kilns that was affecting the soil fertility.
Local Razzaque Ali said the tractors carrying the wood, soil and bricks have been damaging the roads constructed by the government at a cost of Taka several crores. Further, the muddy soil dropped from the tractors, have been making the metalled roads slippery and unfit. It has been creating road accidents frequently.
The officials of the directorate of environment hardly conduct drives once or twice a year which cannot refrain the unauthorized brick kiln owners from doing the unethical activities, Razzaque Ali said. Harinakundu upazila Itbhata malik samity general secretary Hannan Ali Khan when contacted said not only in Harinakundu, unauthorized brick kilns are running throughout the country anyway.
When contacted Assistant director of the directorate of environment Muntasir Rahman admitted that 18 brick kilns do not have proper documents for running their kilns. He said, they had conducted drives against eight brick kiln owners in Harinakundu and fined an amount of Taka 21 lakh in last few months. Adequate number of magistrates are required to conduct any drive against the brick kilns in the district, assistant director of the directorate of environment Muntasir Rahman said.