Brick kilns destroy forest, croplands in Ghatail

A large number of brick-kilns have been set up illegally at Ghatail upazila, destroying the local environment and damaging rural roads.

Black smoke released by the kilns is hazardous for human health and also damages crops and fruits and rampant movement of earth and brick carrying trucks of the kilns is damaging rural roads.

Although no brick-kiln can be constructed near a forest, on croplands or residential areas as per laws, the authorities concerned have not taken any steps against the violation said Nazrul Islam, a green and rights activist in Ghatail.

Over 50 percent of the brick-kilns in the upazila have been running without licenses, he said.

Eight brick-kilns were set up at Chantara village under Jamuria union, covering a large part of the agricultural lands of the village, Nazrul said, adding that the top soil in many areas in the village was also being used for producing bricks, thereby damaging the fertility of the lands.

Ghatail Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdul Matin Biswas said they have not given permission to anyone to build brick-kiln on croplands. 

Many kilns near Dhalapara, Pecharata and Sorabari areas are using timber instead of coal for burning bricks, reducing the forest land, locals alleged.

Dhalapara Forest Range Officer Rezaul Karim said action will be taken against the kiln owners who are burning bricks with timber.

Ghatail Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Dilruba Ahmed said there are 62 brick-kilns in the upazila.

Ten kilns were set up at different villages in Dhalapara union, eleven in Rasulpur, ten in Deolabari, two in Ghatail Sadar and sixteen in Jamuria unions. The other kilns were set up at Lokerpara, Anehola, Digor, Deopara and Digholkani unions.

Many of the kilns do not have licenses and the owners have been running them after filing writ petitions with the court, she said.

"We have already stopped construction work of two new brick-kilns as they did not have necessary permission and documents," the UNO said. 

"After investigation, legal steps will be taken against the kilns set up illegally in the upazila as soon as possible," she added.

However, Faruk Hossain Dhala, secretary of the Brick-kiln Owners Association in Ghatail, said the kilns that do not have licenses are running after taking order from the higher courts.

Muzahidul Islam, deputy director of the Directorate of Environment (DoE) in Tangail, said they had taken action against 13 illegal kilns in the area last year.

"However, we could not take action against many others due to the court order in their favour," he added.