Brick kilns with low-height chimneys affect crops, human health

A brick kiln at Radhakrishnapur in Sadar upazila of Gaibandha burns fuel wood instead of coal, defying government rules. PHOTO: STAR

Large scale use of logs and bamboo roots in brick kilns, many of them using unapproved low-height chimneys, is badly affecting crops, trees as well as human beings in the district.
Several unscrupulous people have set up brickfields in remote areas and on croplands without any approval or license from the competent authorities and are using logs and bamboo roots as fuel for burning bricks.
Such crude brickfields with about 30-foot-high chimneys made of iron sheet are set up on lands leased for six months, said people of Hapania village in Gobindaganj upazila.
But as per government rules, at least 135-foot-high brick-built chimney is required for a brick kiln.
The unapproved brick fields use wood instead of coal, causing destruction of a large number of trees.
Due to emission of huge smoke and ashes, many people, especially children and elderly people suffer from diseases said doctors at local hospital.
It also causes much harm to crops and plants,  said Ariful Islam Babu, secretary of Gaibandha Nagorik Parishad.
Many brickfield owners set up the kilns near localities or busy roads to ease transportation of bricks and inputs, said Abdul Latif Hakkani, a brick manufacturer of Gaibandha town.
Despite locals' repeated appeal to stop operation of brick kilns in populated areas, the callous owners have continued the business.