Brick kiln owners by throwing all norms to the winds have been constructing brick kilns in large numbers, thanks to their nexus with the district officials. The illegal brick kilns are mushrooming in coastal Kendrapada district, especially on the banks of Govari river. Intellectual masses alleged that the district administration has not shown any sincerity to restrict the illegal brick kilns in the area. The kilns are the major causes of pollution, day temperature rise and heat stroke in the area. If sources are to be believed nearly 50 brick kilns have been set up illegally on the outskirts of Kendrapada township and its adjoining areas this year under Kendrapada tehsil, leading to land degradation, soil erosion, temperature rise and air pollution in the area.

The brick kilns are mostly set up in agricultural land. They are also situated on riverbanks. The kilns dig earth continuously to produce bricks from November to May. An estimate says a brick kiln produces over minimum three lakh bricks annually by rendering the lands unsuitable for agriculture. “A kiln uses tonnes of top-soil annually to manufacture bricks. Thus, hundreds of acres of fertile riverside land have reportedly turned unsuitable for agriculture,” said District Krushak Sabha secretary Gayadhar Dhal.

Though there is ban on setting up brick kilns in agriculture land, it is blatantly violated. Besides, continuous digging of earth also weakens the Govari riverbanks, threatening to change the course of the river, alleged Dhal. A kiln having a chimney reportedly uses about eight tons of wood every day during the brick making season. The use of wood and coal creates profuse carbon dioxide emission, said environmentalist Biraja Routray.

Many brick-kilns are situated near the riverside villages for which the villagers are facing a lot of health related problems. The mercury level is rising in the vicinity of brick kiln areas particularly in summer. “We are not coming out from our houses as the chimney of the brick kiln emits polluted ashes in our village,” said locals of Hajaribagicha and Alijanga. When contacted, Kendrapada Tehsildar Dharitri Mishra stated that she would direct her employees to identify illegal brick kilns under her tehsil and take steps against the errant brick kiln owners by imposing penalty. She also added that Rs 3 lakh has been collected as royalty amount from brick kilns owners for setting up brick kilns under the Kendrapada tehsil.