Topsoil removal for brick making wreaks havoc on agri land

Massive use of topsoil for brick manufacturing badly affects fertility of agricultural lands in Amtali upazila of Barguna district.

There is huge demand of earth as millions of bricks are produced in 20 brick kilns in Sadar, Haldia, Chaowra, Kukua, Gulishakhali and Atharogachia unions of the upazila every year.

Of the kilns, 11 are of zigzag type ones while 9 others use traditional drum chimneys.

The owners of these kilns often collect earth from croplands for making bricks.

Hardly aware of the harmful effects, many people sell earth from their land to brick kiln owners, locals said, adding that a thousand cubic feet of soil is selling for Tk 1000.

Brick kiln owners take the soil after digging deep with excavators.

Besides, many farmers dig ponds in the name of fish enclosure in their agricultural land while their main purpose is to sell earth to brick kiln owners.

Consequently, vast agricultural lands are losing fertility.

Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kilns Establishment (Control) Act 2013 prohibits earth collection from agricultural lands, hills and tila (hillocks) for using in brick kilns.

In case of violation, there is provision for imprisonment up to two years and fine up to Tk 2 lakh.

During a recent visit to different areas including Raibala, Fakirbari, Bandra, Chhota Nilganj, Khalian, Ghatkhali, Kalibari, Haldia, Talukdar Bazar, Chawla, Sonakhali and Badura, this correspondent saw topsoil collection from croplands with the help of excavators.

Land is being dug for collecting earth as raw material for making bricks, causing serious damage to the croplands, said Nazrul Islam, a farmer of Kaunia village in Chawra union.

Several others, including elderly farmer Abdul Aziz Gazi of Arpangasia village and Sohel Rana of Paschim Sonakhali village of Atharogasia union expressed similar concerns due to the mindless act.

They demanded that the administration take immediate steps to stop taking of soil from the croplands.

Bidhan Chandra, an agriculturist of Amtali Agriculture Office, said, "The upper level of soil contains the most fertility elements. If it is removed, crop production will be under threat."

Echoing the same, Rezaul Karim, upazila agriculture officer of Amtali, expressed concern about the future of agriculture in the area.

Amtila Upazila Nirbahi Officer Monira Parveen said, "The landowners are selling the topsoil without realising that the callous act causes problem for crop cultivation. Necessary action will be taken to protect croplands."

"We will conduct drives against the brick kiln owners who tempt the land owners to sell topsoil. We will also identify the illegal brick kilns in different areas of the upazila and take action against them," she added.