From Our Correspondent
TURA, Jan 5: As has been the case over the past few years, illegal brick kilns have once again mushroomed across several parts of the plain belt of West Garo Hills (WGH), prompting residents to question the inaction of the authorities.
Residents from Rajabala and parts of the Phulbari constituencies have reported that illegal brick kilns have sprung up in several villages without any valid documentation. All of these newly established kilns are of the open variety, commonly known as Bangla Bhata, and pose serious health risks due to the thick plumes of smoke they emit.
“These illegal kilns are mostly located close to the main roads, which means the authorities—including the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) and the State Forest Department—are well aware of their existence. However, as has been the case for years, no action has been initiated to apprehend the offenders,” said a resident of Rajabala, speaking on condition of anonymity.
According to sources, at least 25 illegal brick clamps have been set up recently in villages such as Nayagaon, Gomaijhora, and Rajpur, among others, in the Rajabala constituency. Many more have also appeared in various parts of Chibinang under the Phulbari constituency. All these areas are predominantly residential, posing serious health risks to people living in close proximity to the kilns.
Another concerning aspect is that these brick clamps are being operated using wood as fuel in the absence of coal, leading to systematic destruction of nearby forest land and plantations. Several of these kilns reportedly have reserves of five to six pickup trucks worth of wood to ensure uninterrupted firing and sturdier bricks.
Over the past two years, residents have lodged multiple complaints with the district administration, GHADC, the State Forest Department, and the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB). Despite this, only token action has been taken.
“Earlier, taking cognizance of these complaints, the MSPCB had sent a team to investigate and identified several illegal brick kilns, including those with chimneys. Notices were issued, but that was the extent of the action. The operators continued to function with impunity, even through the monsoon, before temporarily shutting down due to weather conditions,” said a resident of Phulbari, again on condition of anonymity. This year, the season has just begun, with raw clay currently being moulded into bricks. Once a sufficient number of raw bricks are prepared, the firing process is expected to begin soon.
“These activities have been going on for many years. What started with a few illegal clamps has now mushroomed into an industry stretching from before Rajabala along the AMPT Road up to Tikrikilla and even beyond. There appears to be some level of collusion between kiln owners and those tasked with stopping these operations; otherwise, this would not have been possible,” said another resident.
Worried residents said they are exploring possible ways to curb the spread of these kilns, though many have lost hope of any meaningful action.
“We have seen how these violations have been ignored for years and do not expect things to change this time either. Our only hope is that the administration does what it is meant to do or the government intervenes. If all else fails, approaching the courts may be the only option,” another resident said.
