Illegal brick kilns continue to thrive in Odisha’s Balasore, watch
All the kilns have been declared illegal since 2019. Pollution Control Board has issued repeated letters to Remuna tehsil for identifying illegal brick kilns but in vain.
Balasore: Illegal brick kilns have continued to thrive in Balasore district of Odisha despite restrictions. Operation ‘Sand Storm’ was clamped here in last February under which some illegal brick kilns were closed. However, now again the illegal trade is going on smoothly here. Besides, sand and clay is also openly being stolen, which are required for the kilns. Here is a report.
In last February, the Balasore District Administration started Operation “Sand Storm” to check environmental pollution by stopping the mafia from economic corruption. Accordingly, things changed for some time. However, now the same Illegal business has started again.
After a gap, illegal brick kilns have again come to the fore in the district in the Phuladi and Nahara Patana area under Remuna tehsil.
This illegal brick kilns have contributed a lot towards environment pollution. During operation Sand storm continuous raids were made and stringent action was taken. The administration destroyed some brick kilns. Section 144 was clamped while platoons of forces were deployed. Even the administration identified the land of brick mafia and erected red flags there. The administration had also made a special plan to keep an eye on the money invested in illegal business by the mafias. This was a strong move by the district administration to give an economic strike to such illegal trade.
Mafias are making huge profits due to the hundreds of illegal brick kilns that have sprung up on the banks of the river Budhabalanga and in the surrounding areas.
However, now everything has changed. After about ten months things are like as it was. It seems everything is going on under the control of the administration. New brick kilns have come up even by the side of the national highway. To stop illegal activities, the local Sarpanch have been repeatedly knocked the door of the administration but in vain.
Sand and soil are being stolen from the river bed. Brick kilns have come up by the side of the National Highway.
These areas are under Remuna Tehsil. However Remuna Tehsildar is yet to take any steps to check this illegal activity.
A letter issued from the Ministry of Forest and Environment prescribes, in which areas it is prohibited to lay bricks. The letter also states that it is illegal to make brick kilns in forest and major agricultural land.
Similarly, in areas located within 500 meters from railway tracks, near national and state highways, religious institutions, educational institutions, hospitals etc., brick kiln making is illegal.
Similarly, brick-laying within 5 kilometers of a town or habitation has been declared illegal. However, many illegal brick kilns are running here that are allegedly violating the forest and environment ministry’s restrictions.
Earlier, the Regional Pollution Control Board had imposed fine on 41 illegal brick kilns under Remuna Tehsil and Sadar Tehsil in 2015-16. Accordingly, later, some furnaces were approved to be reopened for construction.
All the kilns have been declared illegal since 2019. Pollution Control Board has issued repeated letters to Remuna tehsil for identifying illegal brick kilns but in vain.
It is alleged that the brick mafia has close links with the tehsil office. There are approximately 80 to 100 illegal kilns in the local area. However, Remuna Tehsildar is unable to tell how many illegal brick kilns are working now.
On the other hand, the local tehsil is discharging its responsibilities only by giving notice to the illegal kilns but taking no steps.
On the other hand, when all the kilns have been declared illegal since 2019 why the kilns were not destroyed? It seems the Tehsil office just shifted its burden by issuing notices. The complaint is that there is a close relationship with the local tehsil office and kiln owner.
Not only the brick kiln, the river dam is also getting weakened by indiscriminate mining of clay and sand from the Budhabalanga River bed. Even the river is changing its course. Hence, many people’s agricultural lands are getting submerged in the river.
Illegal brick kiln has increased in the areas including Dahapada, Kantabania, Dhupada, Gram, Nilampur, Kalyanpur, Sahupada, Haldipada and in Basta and Jaleswar area.
Report: Asutosh Mallick, Balasore, Kalinga TV
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