10 brick kilns at Mohonpur use wood instead of coal

RAJSHAHI, Dec 8: At least 10 brick kilns in Mohonpur upazila here have been using wood instead of coal during the last five years.
Besides, emission of smoke along with toxic elements from the brick kilns is causing serious environment pollution like damaging agricultural lands and products and giving rise to health hazards among people.
While visiting, this correspondent found that at least 30-bigha croplands in the upazila have been damaged following the pollution by at least 10 brick kilns including MMB Brick Kiln and Happy Brick Kiln at Gashigram area, AMM Brick Kiln at Bishahara area, and some others at Borial, Hatra, Mirpur and Jamtola areas of the upazila.
Local sources said, owners of the brick kilns are running their business by managing local political leaders and officials of police and district administrations. As a result, the local administration seems to be reluctant to take any legal step against the brick kilns.
Besides, the kilns produce low-quality bricks but sell those to the buyers at high price, sources said.
General Secretary of Awami League's no. 3 ward unit under Keshorhat Municipality Abul Kalam Ajad said, for the last five years the brick kilns are damaging agriculture sector of the upazila, but there seems to be no authority to look into the matter.
Owner Amzad Hossain of Bidrika Brick Kiln informed, "We have no approval from the Environment Department to run brick kilns here. We have applied in this connection but we got no response yet."
Executive Officer of Mohonpur Upazila Environment Department Alamgir Hossain said, "The brick kilns are using firewood instead of coal which is a violation of existing law. Besides, they have no approval to run the kilns. But, we have not got any complaint yet in this connection."
Necessary legal steps would be taken to stop the illegal brick kilns in this area as soon as possible, the
officer added.