Papering over brick kilns

LAST week, this paper reported that brick kilns are causing environmental and agricultural damage in Lalmonirhat district. The agricultural output has gone down almost 50% because the farmlands were converted into brick kilns. The smoke from the outfits is causing health and environmental damages in the areas around them.
The sad truth is, it is not just in Lalmonirhat, brick kilns are growing around the country and causing similar damages. There are brick kilns near the protected areas causing a decline in biodiversity and impinging on the rights of the local nature-dependent communities. These private businesses are in breach of the Department of Environment's (DOE) policies and laws. Something DOE officials need to take a closer look into.
One may argue, these brick kilns are providing employment to the locals but in the long run increasing the production of bricks as opposed to agricultural products can only leave our country with a lot of brick sandwiches, absolutely inedible.
To provide for expanding constructions in and around cities, the brick kilns are growing fast. The bricks are building homes for you and me. But this environmentally and agriculturally unsustainable measure can only bring more negative impacts. DOE must take steps, and brick kiln owners need to find areas more suitable and not take away production of essentials, leaving the country in avoidable peril.