Assam: Illegal brick kilns near Boko villages cause 'breathing problems'

Boko: More than 50 illegal brick kilns have been established under the Boko Revenue Circle area in the Roumari village area near the Singra to Dagaon road, causing an immense headache for the local public.

According to sources, the villagers of Roumari, Sahipara, Singra, and Dagaon areas have suffering from breathing problems for the last few weeks which is suspected to be due to the burning of green bricks (kutcha bricks) to make bricks.

According to the Assam Bricks kilns establishment and regulation rules, 2013, brick kilns have to be established at least 300 meters away from a residential area having a minimum population of 100-150 people or 20 houses including both thatched and concrete houses, and at least 500 meters from a residential area having a population more than 150 or more than 20 houses including both kachcha/thatched and pucca houses.

According to the guidelines, the brick kiln shall be allowed only on such land which is certified as non-agricultural land by the concerned Circle Officer of Revenue Departments of the Government.

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But, in this case, the brick kilns have been established in the paddy fields. It has been witnessed that these 'illegal' brick kilns have no chimney to control air pollution and these kinds of brick kilns are banned in the state.

The illegal brick kilns have been established near villages having more than 1,000 people, including children and women.

Villagers have alleged that the miscreants are living in the nearby area and are "managing the administration somehow."

"So the administration never takes any action on this matter and now the local villagers have suffered due to it," said a local.