Mushrooming illegal brick fields in Khagrachhari

Firewood piled up for use at a brickfield in Matiranga upazila in Khagrachhari.Photo: STAR

Mushrooming illegal brickfields in Khagrachhari are posing a threat to the environment and agriculture in the hill district. All the brickfields use firewood as fuel.
Besides harming the environment and agriculture by emitting poisonous carbon dioxide, they are eating up scarce cultivable lands in the hill district, sources said.
Environmentalists said the vast natural forests in Khagrachhari are reduced as use of firewood continues unabated.
None of the 49 brickfields has any licence. Their owners even do not bother to acquire licence, said a magistrate in the district administration seeking anonymity.
Chimneys of most of the brickfields are 20 to 30 feet in height. This defies rule of the Department of Environment (DoE) which mandates erecting 120 feet high chimney, said Mohammad Khalilur Rahman of Parivesh Andolon Forum, a local environmental organisation.
Prodip Chowdhury, programme supervisor of the Centre for Sustainable Development (CFSD), said the diminishing forest in Khagrachhari is going to have a negative impact on the environment in the entire region as most of the brickfields use firewood.
Deputy Director (DD) of Khagrachhari Agriculture Extension T Department (AED) M Monjurul Islam blamed brickfields for trees without fruits -- which is a common phenomenon in many villages.
Most of the brickfields are near human habitations, urban areas reserve forests, natural forests, violating Article 5 of Bricks Burning (Controls) Act, 1989, which specifies that brickfields should be set up at least three kilometers from localities and forests, Islam said.
Talking tom this correspondent, AED official Babatosh Chakrabarti pointed out the disastrous impact of brickfields on agriculture. "Yield of paddy and other crops is declining day by day as more and more fertile cultivable land is ending up as brickfields”, he said.
A brickfield uses over 10 acres of land, which was earlier used for producing crops or vegetables, he said.
He also alleged that brickfield owners maintain good links with a section of officials.
This correspondent visited eight upazilas of the hill district and found at least 49 brickfields in Khagrachhari Sadar , Matiranga, Mahalchhari, Manikchhari, Dighinala, Panchhauri, Ramgar and Laxmichhari. They use up around three crore mounds of firewood illegally a year.
The authorities do not take any action though use of coal is mandatory, the sources said.
An official in the district administration on condition of anonymity admitted some government officials' involvement in the illegal operation of brickfields. Their number may be more than 49, he said.
"We can't get the real statistics of brickfields as some officials are also involved in the illegal activities."
According to an estimate, at least 2.8 lakh maunds of firewood are required in each brickfield in a year, during which most of the brickfields produce bricks more then 8 times, the sources said.
The brickfields
Asked, an owner in Khagrachhari confessed that he has no licence for his brickfield as the DoE does not allow its operation as he does.
Another owner in Dighinala said he maintains good links with a section of officials. He however said he would not use firewood if the government provides easy availability of coal.
Magistrate Abul Amin said he realised Tk 26,000 as fine from three brickfields for using firewood.
Divisional Forest Officer Shah-e-Alam denied 'misuse' of forest resources by brickfields. "We do not support use of firewood as fuel in brickfields.
“Matiranga Ranger Sayed Hasmot Ali seized two truckloads of firewood and I also seized two others while those were going to brickfields”, he said.
He could not give any clarification when asked why he did not file any case against the illegal brickfields.
Khagrachhari co-ordinator of Bela (Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association) Muhammad Abu Daud said his organisation will go for legal action against use of firewood in brickfields.
Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Monindra Kishor Tripura said the administration will form a joint taskforce to investigate the alleged illegal operation of brickfields and use of firewood.