RAJABALA, Feb 7: The menace of illegal brick kilns has once again resurfaced in the plain belt of West Garo Hills (WGH), particularly in the Rajabala constituency, posing a severe threat to the local environment.
Information from sources indicate that over 100 illegal brick kilns (locally known as Bangla bhatta) have been set up in villages such as Gomaijhora, Balujhora Borobasra, Shialkandi, Nayagaon and Rajpur—all within Rajabala constituency—with production beginning as early as January 2025.
These kilns, often built near residential areas, are already causing distress among villagers.
The excessive use of firewood, sourced from nearby forested hills under Aking lands, has raised serious environmental concerns as the thick smoke emissions from these kilns pose significant health hazards.
However, despite multiple court orders and government directives banning these illegal setups, enforcement remains lax, and authorities appear to be turning a blind eye to the issue.
The unchecked proliferation of these illegal kilns was also observed last year, with no intervention from the administration. This has left environmentalists and local residents deeply concerned.
In 2024, several residents even filed legal petitions, seeking action against these kilns, leading to a Meghalaya High Court order directing authorities to curb their operations.
However, the lack of implementation by the local and district administration has left much to be desired.
In fact, both the state forest department and the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC)—the key agencies responsible for environmental protection—have largely ignored the issue. As a result, nearly 1,000 such illegal kilns have emerged across the plain belt, primarily within the Rajabala constituency.
The inaction of Meghalaya’s government contrasts sharply with neighbouring Assam, where authorities have strictly clamped down on illegal brick kilns.
While some in Assam have been inconvenienced by the higher cost of bricks from legal kilns, many residents have welcomed the government’s firm action, which has led to cleaner air and better environmental conditions.
A local activist, on the request of anonymity, cast aspersions on the administrative inaction against the illegal brick kilns.
“This is really strange that these illegal setups continue to run ragged despite the presence of so many agencies meant to control such illegalities. Will the government and the local administration only open their eyes and ears once the entire environment is degraded to the extent that it cannot be easily reversed? The sheer numbers in which these kilns (brick clamps) are present show that there is definitely something going on behind the scenes. There can be no other explanation,” the activist said.
He further lamented that repeated complaints to authorities have been ignored in the past.
“There were so many complaints made last year on the matter but look at the result—there was action in name only. The dangers posed by these setups are well known but despite that knowledge, no one wants to come forward to act on the matter. It’s really disgusting that such shameless acts of environmental destruction are being allowed so wantonly,” felt the activist.
