It has been more than one and half decades complaint lodged by the local residents of Doragajan, Kushiabil, Purana Bazaar, Toluvi Village, Bamunpukhuri 1&11, Samaguri village, Zani Village etc. causing hazardous air by Brick Kiln (Industry). In the year 2002, the Nagaland Pollution Control Board had served a notice NPCB/ Ind-Bricks/716-22 dated 26-8-2002 to all brick kiln operators to maintain specification as per the guidelines from the Nagaland Pollution Control Board. In spite of the notice served by the authority, the number of brick kilns has increased from 30 to 50 in the year 2005.
The Department of Industry, Dimapur has issued office Memorandum No.DDIC/MISC/2/2001 dated 25-5-05 to all Brick Kiln operators to follow the guidelines of the NPCB. But we notice that so far the Brick Kiln operators have not honored the Government notice and are still underway to burn the bricks in the same way as before, causing hazardous air pollution.
Today, many environmentalists are concerned about the global environment changes, which has endangered our future generation but many of us are not aware of air pollution. It is in fact that many residents have suffered and died due to asthma, lung cancer, tuberculosis, blood pressure etc. due to air pollution.
We, the affected residents, cannot grow vegetation and take up poultry farming; otherwise it is an ideal place for animal husbandry, floriculture and other crops. But today our area has become economically unproductive and unhygienic.
Now, the brick burning season is coming. I, therefore fervently request you to kindly initiate action against the erring brick kiln operators who do not maintain specified guidelines from the NPCB.
N. Kikon
Social worker, Dimapur.
