Brick kiln owners plundering topsoil of arable lands in Rangpur

RANGPUR, Nov 9: A section of dishonest brick kiln owners are collecting the topsoil of the land ceaselessly for making bricks at 8 upazilas in Rangpur district. As a result the fertility of arable lands of the region is under serious threat.

According to sources about 155 brick kilns have so far been set up in eight upazilas of the district in recent years. Many brickfield owners are running their business violating the existing laws.

The brickfield owners are purchasing the topsoil from owners of the arable lands at a nominal price for manufacturing bricks, which is making the land barren. Because of the lifting of top layer of soil the land is losing fertility, it is alleged.

On the other hand, the total areas of agricultural land are decreasing alarmingly which will ultimately threaten the food security in the densely-populated country. It will not be possible to cultivate any type of crop on the land in future unless the topsoil is replenished, sources alleged.

Besides, some important roads in the areas are also being damaged, as soil is being lifted from both sides of roads.

It is alleged that a section of middlemen motivate poor farmers to sell the surface soil of their land to the brickfield owners, who give the farmers Tk 250 to Tk 300 to collect earth from one foot surface of per decimal of land. Richshaw vans carry the soil to the brickfields.

Fazlu, a resident of Damudarpur village in Badarganj Upazila, told The Financial Express that he cannot understand what is wrong with the sale of soil from his land to the brick kiln owners.

According to experts after removing topsoil from land, it becomes uncultivable and fallow for the next three years, affecting overall crop production.

The conscious people of the district urged the government to take steps to protect the arable lands from the clutches of unscrupulous brickfield owners.

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