Cuttack: A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Orissa High Court Friday alleging the district administration has turned a blind eye to mushrooming illegal brick kilns in the district posing threat to the environment and human life.
Achyutananda Swain, an advocate from Kalyansinghpur in Khurda, has filed the petition and alleged that the brick kilns are operating in residential areas of Barang and Sadar areas without the licence from the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB). While the brick kilns are causing environmental pollution, it poses serious threat to the lives of people, the petition added.
The petitioner made the Law secretary, central revenue divisional commissioner (RDC), Cuttack collector, Sadar sub-collector, Barang tehsildar, Sadar tehsildar and OSPCB secretary as parties to the case.
The petitioner stated that the brick kilns are operating near schools and residential areas even as rules say that licences should not be issued to such units within 2 km radius of the residential areas. The illegal brick units operating in Aman Samil, Kamarpada, Sasolo, Khandayat, Bamphakud, Banpur, Nakhara and 42 Mouza areas release hazardous smoke and pollute the atmosphere.
The brick kiln owners have not taken permission of the OSPCB to operate the units. They are operating the units in nexus with teshil officials, police and pollution board, the petitioner alleged.
The petitioner further stated that bricks are prepared by digging the earth up to 10 feet in gross violation of guidelines. Besides, the regular movement of the vehicles transporting bricks damage the roads in the areas.
The petitioner said he had earlier brought the issue to the notice of the collector, but in vain. He appealed to the court to give a direction to close down the illegal brick kilns.
PNN
