CPI criticises PCB order

Statesman News Service

MALDA,( India) Dec. 20. — The Malda Communist Party of India leaders have criticised the recent order of the state’s pollution control board instructing 32 brick kiln in the state to cease production from February till May, 2006. The leaders claimed that over 30,000 labourers will be jobless in Malda after the implementation of the pollution control board’s order and also the brick kiln production industries will be hard hit. He added that many more who were indirectly employed with the trade will be affected.It may be mentioned here that more than 5 lakh people that includes a large number of women labourers as well, are indirectly engaged in the brick kiln production. In a particular case, on the issue of mango cultivation in

Barasat, which was being affected by smoke emitted by the brick kiln production site, the pollution control board had to follow the verdict of the court for ceasing the brick production. Following the court’s order, now many brick kiln owners and the labourers are facing problems due to discontinuation of the brick kiln production. Malda alone constitutes over 80 brick kilns factories, out of which, 65 of the brick-kiln factories are legally registered. It was reported that each brick kiln unit produces over 25 lakhs brick every season. “Almost all legal brick kilns in Malda have installed chimneys to check pollution caused by smoke, to prevent harm to mango cultivation in the district. Despite of this, the brick kiln units have received instructions to stop production”, said Mr Tarun Das, the district secretary of the CPI. Mr Das further informed that the brick-field owners usually manufacture bricks from the month of November to May. February is the ideal time for the maximum brick production, and the court verdict to stop brick production during the peak season will upset each and every unit related to the brick kiln industry. Malda CPI that solely looks after the labour organisation in the Malda sector, claimed that installation of chimney in brick kiln units that have not yet installed it, will prevent damage to the mango cultivation. #

Pic . Collected from site