SHARIATPUR, Jan 27: At least 50 illegal brickfields are affecting environment in different areas of six upazilas of the district.
These unlicensed brickfields are allegedly using wood for burning bricks rampantly. Their owners said they have to use wood due to high cost and shortage of brick-burning coal.
They have set up their brick kilns illegally in residential areas and on agricultural lands, causing serious health hazards and polluting the environment.
The owners are allegedly felling different fruit-bearing, wooden and medicinal trees to collect firewood for burning bricks. Some owners of the brickfields collect soil from the agricultural lands. Besides, local roads are being damaged as the owners carry soil on heavy vehicles.
Some brickfields at Haturia Village under Gosairhat Upazila, Berachaki and Char Sensus under Bhedarganj Upazila, Kartikpur and Fotejongopur under Naria Upazila, and Kazirhat area under Jajira Upazila were allegedly set up on agricultural lands and most of them have no government approved 120 feet fixed kilns. The brickfields are damaging crops in these areas, some local farmers said.
Farmers- Majid Nai, Mohon Miah and Shahid Dhali of Haturia Village under Gosairhat Upazila said, after the bricks kilns were set up in their village, they are not getting sufficient crops.
Farmers Md Abul Kashem, Hossain Ali, Abdul Motaleb, Anwar Bala and Siraz Miah of Berachaki Village under Bhedarganj Upazila alleged that they had got half of the crops from their lands as brickfields have been set up on agricultural lands.
They complained it to the local administration but no action has been taken against the illegal brickfield owners. According to Section-5 of the Brick Burning Act-1989, no licence would be given if a brickfield is set up within three kilometres of a residential area.
The act also enjoins that the brickfield owners use at least 120-foot fixed kiln for burning bricks. But most of the brickfield owners in the district are violating the Act. The brick kiln owners in collaboration with a section of dishonest officials are running their business illegally.
While visiting some brickfields at Haturia Village under Gosairhat Upazila, Atong, Monohar Bazaar and Kotapara villages under Sadar Upazila, and Berachaki and Narsinghpur under Bhedarganj Upazila, Kazirhat and Bilashpur under Janjira Upazila, this correspondent saw huge wood were stockpiled in front of the brickfields to be used for burning raw bricks.
According to sources at the district administration, at least 50 brickfields in six upazilas of the district have no valid licence for running business.
The sources also said these illegal brickfield owners are yet to submit any applications to the district administration for licence even five years after putting their brick kilns into operation.
When conducted, Md Mostafa, general secretary of District Brickfield Owners' Association, said, "I know that almost all the brickfields here have valid licence."
Deputy Commissioner Kazi Abu Taher said the district administration will take steps against the illegal brickfields if found guilty by inquiry.
