Firewood-based brick kilns pose threat to environment

Brick kilns in Patuakhali and Barguna districts are illegally using firewood instead of coal to fire the kilns. On average, about 2,400 tons of firewood are burned in a brick kiln per year, which pollutes the atmosphere and also threatens the natural environment.

A source of Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner's (DC) office said there are only 32 approved brick kilns in the district, but there are around 80 brick kilns without approval in different areas of the district. There are 170 approved brick kilns in all six districts of Barisal division, but around double that number are running without approval from the district administrations concerned.

A fireman of a brick kiln in Patuakhali Sadar upazila said at least 300 tons of firewood are needed to burn one round (six lacs) bricks. Thus, 2,400 tons are burned per year in a brick kiln as around eight rounds bricks are burned every season from December to April.

About two lakh tons of firewood are burned every year in 80 brick kilns in the eight upazilas of Patuakhali district, a source said. To meet the demand for firewood, a huge number of trees are cut down in different areas in the district, including reserve forest, every year, he added.

Using firewood in brick kilns is a punishable offense, but most owners of brick kilns use firewood by 'managing' the local administration.

"We are forced to burn firewood in brick kilns as there is a shortage of coal," said the owner of a brick field under Patuakhali Sadar upazila.

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) conducted a survey on all 14 brick kilns of Amtali upazila of Barguna district in April 2015. In the survey report they said all the kilns were set up beside croplands and homesteads.

The report also said firewood was used in nine brick kilns and coal in five kilns, while illegal drum chimneys were used in seven kilns.

Owners of brick kilns use firewood as it is cheaper and more easily available than coal. Coal has to be brought from far away and transportation cost is high, sources said.

Regarding the Himalayan Hindu Kush (HHK) region, the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) mentioned that the countries of HHK region, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, China, India, Myanmar and Afghanistan, have been affected by rising emissions of air pollutants from urban, industrial, and rural sources. It raised concerns about deteriorating air quality, impacts on health and visibility. Illegal brick kilns are responsible for severe air pollution, ICIMOD added.

There are 6,338 approved brick kilns in Bangladesh, one lakh in India, 11,000 in Pakistan and only 750 in Nepal, a source added.

Lincon Bayen, Barisal divisional coordinator for BELA, said firewood was used in most brick kilns in Bangladesh, and the government should take steps to discourage this practice to protect the environment.

Production of different types of crops, including paddy and lentils is decreasing day by day due to the impact of the brick kilns. About 30 to 35 maunds of paddy are produced on land far from brick kilns, but only 15 to 20 maunds are produced on land near a brick kiln, he said.

Md. Mannan Howlader, farmer of Tiakhali village under Amtali upazila, said brick kilns affect even fruits like green coconut and jackfruit.

Sukumar Biswas, director of the Environmental Department, said they are conducting mobile court regularly and will take action if any irregularities are found there.

"We demolish kilns which used drum chimneys," he added.

The area covered by forest land is decreasing day by day in the district, and environment is under threat, A K M Mostafa Zaman, dean for disaster management department for Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU), said.

Government should take stern action to control brick kilns so they don't use firewood as it pollutes the air, cropland and trees, he added.