Many illegal brick kilns are operating in Ganjam district in violation of laws and State Pollution Control Board norms for over 30 years.
Social worker Bishnu Prasad Misra has filed a case before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata seeking immediate closure of these brick kilns operating under the political patronisation.
“The NGT has directed the Chief Secretary, Ganjam district Collector and the SPCB Member Secretary many times since May 2015 to close the units. But they have taken different pleas before the tribunal on different dates only to delay the process of law and to satisfy the Government as well as the ruling BJD,” alleged lawyer Biranchi Narayan Mohapatra.
Mahapatra, who filed a rejoinder petition on September 9, alleged that all these illegal brick kiln mafias are active worker of the BJD. The matter has again been adjourned to October 9 for further hearing and orders.
Mahapatra said he would seek liberty in the forthcoming hearing to file penal proceedings against the Chief Secretary and other officials under Section 26 of the NGT Act.
“It is very unfortunate that Government officials did not care the orders of the NGT and the green environment of Ganjam district has been destroyed,” Mahapatra said, adding that the Chief Secretary and the district Collector have filed separate affidavits before the NGT with name and address of the illegal mafias.
Both the officers have stated in their affidavits that a total of 180 illegal brick kilns have been demolished but have not divulged how many brick kilns were seized and how many offenders were arrested and forwarded to the court and how many bonded laborers were rescued from the demolished kilns in Ganjam district.
The Chief Secretary has also failed to file status report and action taken report before the NGT, alleged Mahapatra.