Chaos by brick kiln owners disrupts environ workshop
Environment officials at a workshop in Rajshahi yesterday urged the brick kiln owners to get prepared for compulsorily introducing the new environment-friendly technology within two years as per the government's circular issued in last September.
The Department of Environment (DOE) organised the workshop styled 'Introduction of environment-friendly and modern brick kilns' at Rajshahi Zila Parishad auditorium where over 100 traders from 16 districts of Rajshahi division attended.
However, about 50 brick kiln owners and their supporters led by Sadrul Islam, general secretary of Rajshahi Brick Kiln Traders Association, left the workshop venue at around 1:00pm protesting what they said 'authorities' arbitrary decision to frequently change' technologies for burning bricks.
Due to the chaotic situation, the workshop got postponed while Rajshahi Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, who was scheduled to attend the programme as chief guest, did not turn up.
“Around 8000 brick kilns of the country can save at least 16 lakh tonnes of fuel coal worth around Tk 1120 crore annually through using modern brick kiln technologies that will minimise air pollution and help the traders to produce quality bricks. The government decided to introduce the new system considering all the issues,” DoE Additional Director General Abdus Sobhan told this correspondent at the workshop venue.
Subol Bose Moni, additional DC of Rajshahi, said many kiln traders have been denied licences because their kilns were not established following rules.
Nazmul Hoque, Rajshahi divisional director of DOE, presided over the workshop.
At the beginning of the programme at 11:00am, the brick kiln owners from Rajshahi district expressed their grievances when they noticed that none among the district's businessmen were invited at the stage, witnesses said.
“Even a businessman from Natore was invited as a special guest. But there was none among Rajshahi businessmen at the stage, although the programme was being held in this district,” said Sadrul Islam.
“We set up 120-foot chimney system spending Tk 12 to Tk 18 lakh when the government introduced it in 2002. Now the new technology for setting up Zig Zag Kiln, Hybrid Hoffman Kiln or Vertical Shaft Kiln will cost us fresh investment of similar amounts that many small businessmen cannot afford. It needs minimum ten years more to switch over to the new technology,” said Shafikul Alam Bhota, president of Chapainawabganj Brick Kiln Traders Association.
The provision prohibiting setting up of a brick kiln within three kilometres of residential areas and arable lands can hardly be followed as such areas are rare in the country, said several kiln owners.
Urging review of the brick kiln laws that are unrealistic, they demanded immediate issuance of licences for brick kilns in Rajshahi.
In Rajshahi division, there are 838 brick kilns that have licences and 74 kilns are without certificates from the DoE.
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