No brick kilns in mango growing areas

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 23 APRIL: The Malda district administration could finally act against the brick kilns operating in the mango growing areas of the district.

The development comes after six mango growers from Bangitola in Kaliachak II block met the district horticulture officials and the ADM (land reforms) to inform them how smoke from kilns was affecting the mango crop.

“We have lost the battle against the brick kilns. We failed to protect the mangoes and are now suffering a major financial crisis having lost over 200 quintal mangoes to brick kiln smoke this season”, said Mr Dharamdas Mandal, a mango farmer from Meghutola village.

Demonstrating black tipped mangoes, allegedly affected by brick kilns smoke the victims said: “ Though the Kaliachak II BDO had instructed the Mothabari police outpost to stop the burning of bricks in the kilns during the mango season, the police have not taken any action against it”, they said.

Lamenting the situation, the assistant director horticulture department in Malda Mr Rahul Chakraborty said: “We had requested the ADM (LR) to take action on the matter and he had instructed the concerned BDOs and BLL&RO to look into it, but the problem is yet unresolved”.

Commenting on the matter, the Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal said: “The land and land reforms department gives permission to the brick kilns. The police does not provide license to the brick kilns. I do not know whether the BDO had instructed the Mothabari police outpost to take action. The BDO should have sent a copy of the letter to me”.

The ADM (LR) Mr K N Dew, however, said that the police were reluctant to take action. “The police cannot avoid responsibility. The BDO would not send a copy of the letter to the SP, the Mothabari outpost should have informed him, which they did not”, the ADM said.

According to him, the BDO had instructed the police on the basis of the pollution control board’s norms. “The BLL&RO has been instructed against giving permission to the brick kiln owners to fire the kilns during the mango season”, Mr Dew said.