Thanks to an unholy nexus of the venal officials in the district administration with the brick kiln owners, illegal brick kilns are on the rise in coastal Kendrapada district, especially at the river bank of Govari under Kendrapada tehsil.
Intellectual masses alleged that the district administration has little sincerity to restrict the illegal brick kiln in the area. As a result, the day temperature and heat has started increasing with the rising of mercury in the ongoing summer.
If sources are to be believed, nearly 50 brick kilns were set up illegally in the outskirts of Kendrapada township and its adjoining areas this year, which have become a major cause of land degradation , soil erosion , rising of temperature 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. A brick kiln, produces over 3 lakh bricks annually by rendering the land unsuitable for agriculture. A kiln uses tonnes of top-soil annually to manufacture bricks. Thus, hundreds of fertile riverside lands have reportedly turned unsuitable for agriculture, said Umesh Singh, a farmer leader.
Though there is a 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 Singh.
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 that causes air pollution further, while the district administration sits silently and not taking any steps in this regard , alleged Ashis Senapati, a local environmentalist.
Many brick kilns are situated near 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 the villagers of Hajaribagicha and Alijanga.
When contacted, Kendrapada Tehsildar Pravas Behura stated that allegation in this regard has come to his notice and he would direct the Revenue Inspector of the concerned circle to visit to the area to conduct an inquiry and take necessary steps.