Brick kilns becoming new threat to Hakaluki Haor
This brick kiln at Jafarnagar in Juri upazila of Moulvibazar district falls under the 'Ecologically Critical Area' that the government declared in 1999 to save Hakaluki Haor, especially its environment and biodiversity.Photo: STAR
A section of influential people have continued setting up brick kilns in and around Hakaluki Haor area, posing environmental threat to one of the largest water bodies in the country. Defying environment law, ten new brick kilns have been set up around the haor even after its declaration as an 'Ecologically Critical Area' (ECA) in 1999. The government declared Hakaluki Haor, covering 40 thousand hectares of land areas in 11 unions of five upazilas under Moulvibazar and Sylhet districts, as an ECA to save it from rampant tree plundering, fishing by drying up shallow parts and bird hunting. Although law prohibits establishment of brick kiln around in any ECA, nine of the 16 brick kilns around Hakaluki Haor area are located in the ECA marked area, said sources at the offices of Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management Project and Environment Department at Kulaura. During a recent visit to a couple of brick kilns in Moulvibazar district, this correspondent saw that earth for manufacturing of bricks is being collected from Hakaluki Haor bed areas while smoke from the brick kilns is polluting the area. Besides, trees are being burnt in brick kilns instead of coal, locals said. "We issued letters to the deputy commissioners of Moulvibazar and Sylhet to remove the brick kilns around Hakauki Haor area in 2007. A notice was also served to a kiln owner in Juri upazila to remove it," said environment department official Md Mujahidul Islam who looks after Hakaluki Haor. Sometimes, brick kiln owners get stay orders from the court against eviction, he added. Moulvibazar Deputy Commissioner Md Mostafizur Rahman said action will be taken against those who illegally establish brick kilns around Hakaluki Haor.
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