District Cottage and Small Industries Office in Lahan has permitted 85 firms to operate brick kilns in Siraha district. However, the registration of 30 brick kilns has already been cancelled as they were not renewed on time.
Mahinarayan Sah, cottage and small industries officer, said only around 55 firms have permission to operate brick kilns in the district. "But the number is much more than this.
Even the kilns, whose registration has been cancelled, are continuing to operate despite our repeated warnings," he added. Sah also said they had been unable to take action against those kilns due to shortage of human resources and security factor. He also said many brick kilns are operating in remote areas of the district like Madar, Aurahi, Navarajpur and Sikajyoti without permission of concerned authorities.
Nabin Aryal, officer at Inland Revenue Office, Lahan, said 50 brick kilns in the distirct are evading tax and are disobeying government´s directions. "Only a few of them are paying taxes. We are not in a position to take action against those kilns because of shortage of manpower," Aryal added.
Kul Bahadur Basnet, secretary of Asanpur VDC, said he has been forced to grant permission to brick kilns due to pressure from different authorities. "People here aren´t aware of the environmental hazards triggered by the brick kilns that are operating here by breaching rules and regulations," Basnet added.
The unauthorized brick kilns are inviting environmental hazards in places like Asanpur, Chandralalpur and Betaina among others.
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