After coal, sand and stone, a fresh case of illegal soil excavation and trade has surfaced in West Burdwan district following a complaint filed over the unauthorised extraction of soil and its use in brick kilns.
A resident of Barabani has lodged a complaint with the District Magistrate and Collector of West Burdwan, S Ponnamballam, and also with the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
According to sources, authorities have inspected several locations in the Barabani police station area under the Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate (ADPC) in connection with alleged illegal soil mining.
Bittu Viswakarma, a social worker from the Barabani Assembly constituency, submitted a written complaint to the District Magistrate and the NGT, alleging rampant extraction of topsoil from the area, even during night hours, using heavy earth-moving machinery. He has also submitted video footage in support of his allegations. He further claimed that the soil is loaded onto tractors and transported at night.
It has been alleged that a large number of brick kilns operate across the industrial belt of the Asansol Sadar and Durgapur sub-divisions in West Burdwan district, for which huge quantities of soil, sand and coal are required. As all three materials are readily available in the region, the brick kiln industry has expanded rapidly. Complaints have previously been made to the authorities regarding their illegal operations.
The District Magistrate of West Burdwan, S Ponnamballam, has already directed the Additional District Magistrate (Land Revenue) to probe the allegations. The investigation is currently underway, and complaints relating to illegal soil mining are now also being examined.
According to administrative sources, bricks are manufactured by stacking them around a chimney and firing them with coal. As per government rules, the quantity of soil used is assessed for every thousand bricks produced, and royalty is collected accordingly. The royalty rate is fixed per thousand bricks, and the entire process is conducted online.
However, according to local sources, it is alleged that royalty is deposited for only 3,000 bricks, while production continues up to 10,000 bricks. Soil used for the additional bricks is allegedly sourced illegally without payment of royalty. The actual position will emerge only after the completion of the investigation.
It has also been reported that soil is being loaded onto tractors at night, and in some areas land is being cut using heavy earth-moving machinery.
This fresh complaint has created a major political stir in the district, which has already been rocked by recent CBI and Enforcement Directorate raids linked to illegal sand and coal mining operations.