Guwahati: Nearly 500 illegal brick kilns are reportedly operating across parts of the Boko–Chhaygaon co-district in Assam’s Kamrup district, prompting concern among residents and civil society groups over environmental degradation and significant loss of government revenue.
The proliferation is most visible in Haribhanga, Ghilabari, Bamunbari and neighbouring villages, with several areas under the Nagarbera and Chamaria revenue circles witnessing a sharp rise in unauthorised units.
Sources said the offices of the Boko and Chamaria revenue circles had earlier issued warnings against the mushrooming kilns. However, construction and operations are alleged to have continued without interruption. Civil society organisations have expressed concern over what they describe as inadequate enforcement by the district administration, the Pollution Control Board, the Forest Department and the police.
Local residents and licensed kiln owners have alleged that the state exchequer is incurring substantial losses due to the unchecked functioning of unauthorised units. Under existing regulations, legal brick kilns are required to pay 12% GST in addition to land royalty. A licensed chimney kiln owner in Boko said he is liable to pay nearly Rs 12 lakh this year in GST and royalty alone.
In contrast, illegal operators are alleged to evade all statutory payments, creating what licensed operators describe as an uneven competitive environment while depriving the government of significant revenue. Reports indicate that each unauthorised kiln produces between 5 to 10 lakh bricks per firing cycle, operating without regulatory approval or environmental clearance.
Residents have also raised concerns over the environmental impact. They allege that the kilns burn wood, coal and topsoil, emitting dense smoke that affects air quality in surrounding areas. Villagers living nearby report an increase in respiratory ailments, while ash deposits are said to have contributed to skin-related ailments.
Environmental damage, they contend, extends beyond air pollution. The extraction of fertile topsoil for brick production has reportedly affected agricultural productivity and local vegetation, raising concerns about long-term soil degradation and food security.
On February 8, personnel from the Mandira Police Outpost under Boko Police Station, led by officer Rewat Saikia, attempted to dismantle illegal kilns in Haribhanga. The team reportedly faced resistance from certain locals, and the drive could not be completed as planned.
The episode has intensified calls from community leaders and residents for sustained enforcement action against unauthorised operations.
Questions have also been raised over what some citizens describe as selective enforcement. On February 13, Chamaria revenue circle officer Nandan Nilutpal Bhagawati sealed two licensed kilns — BKB and NKB for failing to renew documents with the Pollution Control Board.
While residents acknowledged the importance of regulatory compliance, they argued that strict action against licensed units should be matched by decisive measures against hundreds of allegedly illegal kilns that continue to operate without regulatory oversight.