Brick kilns in South Kamrup allegedly flouting rules

From a Correspondent

Boko, January 31: Though there is a provision in the Assam Brick Kilns Establishment and Regulation Rules, 2013 to avoid clustering of brick kilns, there are more than 200 brick kilns at Haribhanga, Telipara, Ghilabari, Jogipara villages in South Kamrup.

Clause 2 of the Assam Brick Kilns Establishment and Regulation Rules, 2013 states, “The distance between two brick kilns shall not be less than 500 meters to avoid clustering of brick kilns in an area if a new brick kiln is being installed.” But in South Kamrup without any problems these kilns or clusters of kilns are functioning and have become a major source of air pollution. Brick industries are growing rapidly in villages and air pollution has increased in the area.

According the rules, “Stack height of brick kiln and emission standard shall be as per notification of Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government. of India under schedule I at Sl.No. 74 of Environment (Protection) rules, 1986 vide GSR 543 (E) dated 22.7.2009. The brick unit shall install permanent stack and the height of the stack must be at least 30 meters. Brick kilns with moving chimney shall not be allowed.” But these kilns totally ignore these rules.

These brick kilns emit more smoke than any other normal factory because here burning process takes a long time to solidify the bricks from mud and low quality coal is burnt in this process which causes more pollution. A local pharmacy owner alleged, “Emission of several harmful gases and particulate matter from burning of coal in brick kilns cluster causes serious respiratory diseases like bronchitis and asthma.”

The working conditions of the kiln laborers are poor as they do not have any knowledge of their rights and privileges and they work in intense heat without any medical facility. Despite burn injuries, workers keep working without complaining. Their wages are meagre and they cannot reject the petty wages because of their poverty.

Local people have alleged that these kilns do not proper permission and as per rules, the circle officer or revenue authority cannot permit to establish a kiln in agricultural land but here a colony of kilns has been set up.