Nabarangpur: Mushrooming brick kilns near Kusumjhar reservoir in Agnipur panchayat of Nabarangpur district has become a threat to the reservoir and its surroundings.
Locals had informed the Collector and the Revenue Officer regarding this, but no action was taken by the authorities.
Similarly, the Kendriya Vidyalaya authorities near the lake had also alerted the Revenue Department regarding the brick kiln. But the department has done nothing except raiding the kiln once.
Operations at the kiln are increasing by the day as the Revenue Department has not take proper action against the operators, locals said.
The Kusumjhar reservoir is the one of the main sources of water for farmers to irrigate their farms. The farmlands had gony dry during the rabi season. After this, the capacity of the reservoir was raised by spending Rs 1 crore last year.
The Minor Irrigation Department has started constructing a canal to irrigate 526 acre. But some brick kilns start occupying the premises of the reservoir, after the water level goes down post monsoon.
The brick kiln owners use husk to cure the bricks. The smoke from the brick units is polluting the atmosphere.
As the Kendriya Vidyalaya is located near the reservoir the smoke from the kilns is affecting students.
The school’s Principal, Mantu Kumar, had informed Nabarangpur MP Baladhadra Majhi regarding this during his visit to the school. The Principal had also filed a complaint with the Collector regarding the matter.
Around 80 people are running brick kilns near the reservoir, and the number is increasing by the day.
The inaction of the Revenue Department has encouraged the illegal brick kiln owners, locals said. The people have demanded demolition of the brick kilns and action against the owners.
The Executive Engineer of the Minor Irrigation Department, Suresh Chandra Pradhan claimed letters had been sent to the Tehsildar in this regard.
The Forest Department has been granted some sites for its projects near Kusumjhar. The Department was also sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for developing the site, Pradhan added.
PNN