No new brick kilns allowed, 3,491 illegal ones to be closed: Environment adviser
No new brick kilns will receive any permits, while the 3,491 currently operating without environmental clearance will also be closed, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said today (19 September).
During an exchange meeting with officials of the environment department and the Bangladesh Brick Manufacturing Owners Association (BBMOA) at the Secretariat, Rizwana expressed deep concern at the impact of brick kilns, saying aside from making buildings, a habitable environment also had to be ensured for future generations.
She said the average life expectancy of people was decreasing by 5-7 years due to air pollution. Therefore, no brick kiln can be operated without licence and permit.
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She further told officials of the Department of Environment to take strict action against corruption.
At the meeting, leaders of the BBMOA highlighted the challenges faced by the brick industry and suggested adoption of environment-friendly technology.
They sought the government's support in encouraging the use of green technology in brick kilns and gave a memorandum to the adviser in this regard.
In the meeting, the secretary of the Ministry of Environment, additional secretary, director general of the Department of Environment and President of the central committee of the BBMOA Feroz Haider Khan, among others, spoke.
