SHILLONG/TURA, Jan 25: The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has confirmed the presence of over 40 illegal brick kilns in the Garo Hills.
GH Chyrmang, who is the Member and Secretary of MSPCB, said upon receiving complaints that over a hundred illegal brick kilns are operational in the Garo Hills as reported by The Shillong Times, the field officers of the board conducted an inspection and found the existence of over 40 illegal kilns.
Earlier, the Garo Hills Youth Organisation had alleged the widespread presence of the brick kilns.
“There was also a National Green Tribunal case in the past and we were actively involved. Our team of field officers visited the site on December 6 and 7 to conduct an inspection. Upon confirming their illegality, closure notices were issued on January 10, 2024, under Section 33(A) of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and Section 31(A) of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1981,” Chyrmang said.
He said four units violating the closure notices issued to them in 2019 have been penalised with Rs 15.10 lakh each in environmental compensation. He said the field officers detected 40 illegal brick kilns but the list does not end there. “They are investigating in a phase-wise manner. We don’t have a regional office in Tura. Hopefully, there will be one in the near future,” he said.
Given the mushrooming of illegal brick kilns, the MSPCB has requested the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills to impose Section 144 of the CrPC in the area in question.
Following the statement by MSPCB on notices served to illegal brick clamps, contact was established with one of the complainants, Nazmul Hussain who said nothing happened on the ground.
“We lodged multiple complaints with the Deputy Commissioner on the matter but there was no move to do anything. No action was forthcoming even when we had complained to the MSPCB. It is only after we wrote to the Central Pollution Control Board that they suddenly decided to get off their chair,” Hussain said.
A recent visit to Rajabala and Phulbari showed signs that these illegal brick kilns were still operating with impunity despite the MSPCB’s claim that it had issued shutdown notices to them.
“What is infuriating is that they have even set up an illegal clamp at the heritage, archaeological site at Rajpur and despite what is happening, no one seems willing to lift a finger. We are all suffering due to the lack of action against these illegal set-ups. It really makes us wonder why these are being allowed such a free run,” Hussain said.
What is worrisome is that the forest departments of the state and the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council have remained mute spectators even while everyone is demanding action. The administration too has strangely remained a mute spectator.
The problem with these illegal clamps is actually two-fold. While they are illegal in nature, the lack of space in the plains belt means they need to operate within densely-populated areas, causing environmental and health hazards to those living nearby.
Secondly, what is more concerning is that they use timber to fire up their pits and with well over 100 such clamps in the plains belt, the surrounding environment will see a huge number of trees (large or small) being cut to provide fuel to these clamps.
