7 Brick kilns in Anantnag affect 942 kanals of paddy land in Anantnag. RTI reveals

Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag 04, October: According to J&K Brick Kiln Act 2010, no Kiln can be constructed on agricultural land or near a place that can affect the flora and fauna of a place, its habitation, and or can affect the health of the general public. However, these twin villages of Anantnag,Furrah, and Nipora have been hosting seven brick kilns, all working without mandatory consent from PCB and Agriculture department.

The area has been hit with a double whammy of pollution and soil erosion. The  7 brick kilns that have been running illegally have affected 942 kanals of agricultural land (paddy land)at the same time pose a serious threat to human

An applicant filed RTI vide order No VZ/AEO/2019-2020 Dated 18/12/2019 revealed that the seven brick kilns which are running without any NOC from PCB and agriculture department affected 942 kanals of paddy land in twin villages in Anantnag District which can lead to the devastation of the agricultural land in twin villages.

However, experts say that a large number of brick kilns have already devastated agricultural land in Anantnag District.

Official sources told Arising state that most of the brick kilns are operating in the district without following the rules and regulations as laid down in the brick kiln Act 2009-2010.

The license of the majority of them has already expired and they have not approached any authority to renew it,” sources said. The sources added that almost all brick kilns are running in agricultural land in district Anantnag. All this is happening under the nose of the revenue department. People are clueless as how the department gives a nod to convert agriculture land into ‘Banjri Kadim’.

Some villagers in adjacent villages have taken up the issue with the higher officials in recent years, higher officials had urged the concerned officials to ensure that the ban on illegal brick kilns in the district is not violated..However, these officials blatantly violate all the norms by ignoring the orders.

The higher authorities who are in knowledge of this hotchpotch are simply watching over this ecological disaster, sources said.

According to Jammu and Kashmir Brick Kilns Regulation Act 2010, a set of rules were framed to regulate and issue licenses for the functioning of Brick Kilns. As per the Act, Brick Kiln cannot be established on agricultural land. All the brick kilns can only be established on Banjri Kadim land identified by the Revenue Department. Furthermore, NOCs have to be obtained from the forest, agriculture, PWD, legal metrology, health, pollution control board, education, and concerned Deputy Commissioner.

While talking to the District officer pollution control Board Anantnag, Firdose Ahmad expressed his helplessness in dealing with the unauthorized /illegal kilns. He said that not a single brick kiln is registered with the PCB. The board has issued notices in hundreds to date, but all in vain. He said that at least 53 brick kilns are running in District Anantnag and all are running without NOC from the department. Firdose said that we have informed various brick kiln owners to take NOC first from (JKEAC) Jammu and Kashmir Expert Appraisal Committee however, they have acted up.

Further stating Firdous informed our correspondent that the central government has already constituted a State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority August last year in consultation with the State Government formulated a State Level Expert Appraisal Committee to assist the Authority.