Illegal brick kilns proceed to thrive in Cuttack

By Express News Service
CUTTACK: Even as unlawful brick kilns have sprung up throughout the blocks in gross violation of all environmental norms, the district administration has turned a blind eye to the menace. Despite restrictions imposed by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB), over 10,000 brick kilns are working with out environmental clearance in 15 tehsils of the district. Highest variety of unlawful brick kilns have been reported from Niali, Kantapada, Cuttack Sadar, Kissan Nagar, Nischintakoili and Mahanga tehsil areas.

Most of those brick kilns, arrange in agriculture land near habitations, colleges, temples and monuments protected both by the State Archeology division or Archeological Survey of India, are being run by some influential individuals in connivance with the native income officers.

The operators choose the summer season season for intensifying brick making because the drying strategy of the clay is simpler. They additionally draw groundwater illegally. “While use of wood in brick kilns is one of the causes of deforestation, huge volume of carbon dioxide emitting from burning of coal and wood is polluting the atmosphere thereby causing respiratory related diseases in the localities,” stated surroundings activist and retired instructor Pradipta Kumar Acharya of Ishani Bramhapur in Kissan Nagar.

The kilns generate huge warmth and add to temperature rise of their neighborhood. Besides, the common motion of autos particularly vans and tractors to move the bricks has broken rural roads, other than inflicting air air pollution, he added.Locals alleged that repeated complaints on this regard to native tehsildars haven’t yielded any outcome.

“Instead of curbing the menace, the revenue officials are encouraging the unscrupulous businessmen to continue the illegal trade till arrival of rainy season by imposing a minimum amount of fine or taking bribe,” they alleged.

Collector Bhabani Shankar Chayani, nevertheless, stated efforts are on to curb the unlawful brick kilns. A devoted squad comprising officers of income, OSPCB and Directorate of Factories and Boilers will probably be shaped quickly to crackdown towards the unlawful actions through the summer season season, he added.