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Impact of Brick Kilning Industry in Peri-urban Bangladesh

Choyon Kumar Saha
Department of Sociology, Jagannath University, Dhaka 1100, Bangladesh

Jahangir Hosain
Leads IT Ltd., Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The paper reports a study of brick kilning in peri-urban Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study concerns the adverse environmental effects of the industry which appears to be acting regardless of legal constraints.

Keywords: Bangladesh, Brick kilning, Environment, Pollution

Location: Dhaka district of Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Brick kilning industry

Objectives:

To identify the Impact of brick kilning industry in peri-urban Bangladesh

Methodology:

Profile of the study area: The study area – Kalampur village in Sanora Union under Dhamrai Upazila (sub-district) – is well-recognized as the northern peri-urban region of Dhaka megacity. The total population of the study village is 1108 in 179 households. The union consists of 25 villages, of which one village (Kalampur) was purposively selected for the study. The reasons why we chose this area are: (1) a growing number of brick kilns are being built in the area; (2) a large number of bricks comes from the northern peri-urban area, including Dhamrai; (3) the study region is polluted mainly by the growing number of brick kilns; and (4) all brick kilns are clustered and they emit huge toxic fumes, causing serious damage to trees, agriculture and the environment as a whole. Sampling procedure: A random sampling technique was applied for data collection. The unit of the study was local people. The following reasons governed the selection of the target groups: (i) local people are vulnerable to brick combustion; (ii) people’s agricultural production is severely affected by brick kilns; and (iii) local people face diverse health hazards. The sample size was 180. The head of the household who makes major economic, social and household decisions irrespective of age and gender, was taken as respondent. Data collection: Each survey interview was based on a structured questionnaire with open and closed ended questions. It was supplemented by semi-structured and unstructured questions in order to gain more information. The questionnaire and the focus group guidelines were prepared keeping the study objectives in mind. Secondary data allowed for analysis and comparison with the primary data. Secondary data were collected from the relevant departments, agencies, offices and various journals, dissertations and books published recently. Each focus group consisted of eleven participants, who came from heterogeneous backgrounds (e.g. farmers, housewives, workers at brick kilns and students). Data analysis: All survey data were analysed using SPSS version 16.00. For analysis of qualitative data, axial coding techniques were applied because it helped to simplify the condensed and voluminous qualitative data and arrange a large number of subcategories. Audio recordings of group sessions were transcribed and analyzed. Based on the transcripts, coding categories and subcategories were generated. We read the transcripts carefully and searched for the connection between the participants’ expressed feelings and the broader socio-economic contexts. Qualitative data analysis was based on themes, observations and meanings.

Source of Information: International Journal of Environmental Studies, 2016, Vol. 73, No. 4, 491–501

Article Link (Online Journal): http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207233.2016.1179014

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Brick-making is an important but informal industrial sector in Bangladesh contributing to the country’s national GDP and creating huge opportunities for many to earn their livelihoods. Since stones are not readily available in Bangladesh, the construction industry has to rely on bricks as the major construction material – and the housing industry is booming. Brick-making is vital for the growth of the construction sector; but the vast majority of the kilns use archaic, outmoded, energy-intensive and polluting methods. Throughout Bangladesh but particularly in the peri-urban area of Dhaka city brick kilns are a major source of pollution. Despite the availability of substantially cleaner, and new technologies such as VSBK®, HHK® and ZK®, traditional technology is in use everywhere, with a few exceptions. The new technologies consume less energy and emit lower levels of pollutants and fewer greenhouse gases. Almost all brick kilns in peri-urban regions are built on farmland and in residential areas, reserved forests or even on the land of academic institutions. Most of the brick kilns use biomass and firewood as fuel, although this is prohibited under the Brickfield Law (Regulation) of 1989, amended in 1992 [3]. There is competition between brick kiln and farm, because each finds loam to be the best type of soil for its purposes. The situation is aggravated when the brick-making soil is collected from farmland, damaging topsoil fertility, micro-organic nutrients and soil compacting capacity. The growing number of brick kilns needs more and more water for brick processing. This results in a falling water table and insufficient irrigation water during the dry period, particularly in the rabi and kharif seasons. The emissions from brick kilns reduce environmental quality and harm human health. A significant number of the brick kilns use chimneys 25 feet in height. This is prohibited under the Brick Kilning Control Act 2001, which provides for chimneys to be 120 feet tall. These breaches of the law appear to be accepted by the authorities.

Knowledge Management: Journal