Brick kilns in coastal reserve forest area demolished after a decade
Two brick kilns inside the coastal reserve forest area at Uttar Kattoli along the Bay of Bengal in Chattogram which were in operation for a decade were demolished in a joint operation today.
Officials from Bangladesh Forest Department, Department of Environment (DoE) and Chattogram district administration along with police, Rab and Fire Service launched the operation in the morning. It continued till 3:00pm.
The brick kilns--KML and M R S--both have been in operation since 2008. Any action against the kilns were always blocked by the owner who would secure stay orders from court, said Golam Mawla, divisional forest officer of Coastal Forest Division, Chattogram.
The drive also demolished Abdus Sobhan Brick Kiln adjacent to Link Road at Sitakunda upazila in Chattogram.
Mohammad Moazzom Hossain, director of DoE Chattogram region told The Daily Star they demolished three kilns today, of which two were inside the coastal reserve forest.
"These kilns had been operating illegally as they did not secure any clearance from DoE, cutting hills to feed the kilns, and polluting air as they did not set up any environment friendly mechanism," he said.
These kilns were using plastic, rubber which intensify the air pollution, he added.
The kilns were readying the earthen brick to be fired inside the kilns, when the drive started. Thousands of bricks were bulldozed and destroyed.
Mohammad Nurullah Nuri, director of DoE Chattogram metro told The Daily Star that they will be tough in maintaining environmental compliance and this is a part of that campaign.
Hundreds of Rab, Police and Fire Service men assisted the drive.
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