The Revenue Secretary's recent initiatives to crack down on illegal brick kilns in the State have been welcomed by the citizens and farmers in Ganjam district.
Notably, several dozens of brick kiln industries are operating on the banks of the Rushikullya river, more particularly between Ganjam town and Purushottampur allegedly in connivance with some dishonest officials of the district administration. The brick kilns have been established very close to the river side and even some of them are located within 100 meters from the river bank in clear violation of the environmental law.
Ironically, some of these brick kilns are running for last several decades under the full knowledge of the district administration, which have substantially eroded the river bank at many crucial points posing a serious menace to the lives and properties of the people of the region. Interestingly, whenever any news ventilating public anger surfaces in media, the administration gets activated only for a short period, but later things go as usual.
The brick kiln mafias often lure poor and innocent farmers of the area to lease out their lands under exorbitant lease amount for their vested interests, as a result of which, the lands in the long run become unfit for agricultural purposes, besides causing stagnation of water.
Under such circumstances, the State Revenue Secretary's recent decision to fix personal accountability against the revenue officials for dereliction of duty for allowing unauthorized brick kilns is hailed by the local public and the farmers in the district, said sources.