Daily Times

SUKKUR: More than 40 unregistered brick kilns close to housing areas in Sukkur district have been posturing health risks to area people.

While 25 kilns are expended across Bachal Shah, Golimar, Ali Wahan and Saeedabad areas, the remaining fifteen have been running in areas close to Kandhra, Roshabad and Bengmanji residential areas within a radius of less than 300 meters. Survey conducted by Daily Times reveals that all areas have been affected by toxic waste and effluences emitting by brick kilns for many years. The concerned authorities have not taken any action to resolve the matter.

Social workers and dwellers told that they have been living in these areas for last 30 years. The attraction of vicinity has been stained due to growing pollution and brick kilns were the main source of it. Inhabitants of all these areas have been facing worst kind of environmental pollution, which causes asthma, lung cancer and sinus problems. Residents of these areas had complained and demanded of authorities many times for removal of brick kiln but all went in vain.

According to environmental experts, brick kilns release pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere. Environmental Protection Agency Sukkur regional office and other higher authorities are not taking any action, area people lamented. The smoke emitted by brick kilns would not be dangerous if filtration plants are installed over the burner of kiln. Few brick kilns are adjacent to residential areas, as they were established even before setting up of residential colonies like Bachal Shah and Golimar areas.

Dr Ghulam Murtaza Bugti, a specialist stated that smoke of brick kiln was hazardous for health particularly for kids. Therefore most of the workers of brick kiln have been facing asthma and other breathing ailments.

Published in Daily Times, August 20^th 2017.