Manjur Morshed Tuhin, Patuakhali

Industrial development is constantly increasing in Patuakhali, a developing southern town. Factories, small and medium and large industries, hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers, residential hotels are numerous areas for environmental pollution. Due to lack of timely and appropriate enforcement, the level of environmental pollution has become uncontrollable.

According to the information of the Department of Environment, the number of brick kilns listed in Patuakhali is 79. Out of them, 58 are valid and 21 are invalid. Also there are at least 10 unlisted brick kilns. About 20 of these brick kilns use coal as fuel. All other fuels are wood. At least 250,000 tonnes of wood is used as fuel in the kilns of the district. In 2023, only 5 brick kilns were evicted and a fine of 50,000 taka was imposed. In 2024 only 7 brick kilns were fined 5 lakh 30 thousand taka in 5 kilns without eviction and 2 kilns were eviction campaigned.

It is learnt that the production was relaxed for a few days after the raid, but the brick kiln was run again and again in violation of the previous ban. However, mobile court operation has not been conducted in any brick kiln this year.

According to the data, only 26 days in 2023 and 2024 were raided with mobile codes. Out of this, 64,000 rupees was imposed in 8-day noise pollution campaign, 1,26,000 rupees in 8-day campaign for banned polythene, 5,80,000 rupees in 10-day brick kiln.

The areas of environmental pollution include air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, soil pollution, toxic and hazardous waste, washing, pumping, smell, vibration, fire, explosion. In all cases there are rules for conducting business after environmental clearance, but most mill owners do not follow any rules. However, some institutions near the district town and upazila town follow the rules, but most of the institutions in Gramganj have a different picture.

The Patuakhali Environment Department listed operating establishments include rice mills, dog yards, workshops, plastic factories, metal industries, ice cream factories, self-mills, flower mills, residential hotels and diagnostic centers, which are operating smoothly without any form of environmental clearance. Continuing their regular activities. Also, most of the companies are continuing their operations as per their convenience with environmental clearances.

There is widespread criticism of proper waste management practices in hospitals and clinics. Also, the river banks and water are being polluted due to unplanned dumping of waste by various institutions along the river banks in different parts of the district.

Illegal factories and establishments in the district ignore government regulations and do not obtain environmental clearances, causing adverse effects on the environment and the government losing lakhs of rupees in revenue every year. In addition, the people of the conscious society think that the awareness of the people will increase if the mobile courts are conducted regularly on the illegal factories.

Assistant Director of Environment Department in Patuakhali , Md. Asaduzzaman, said, "We warn the illegal factories with regular letters." There is no routine in running the mobile court but we do it with the cooperation of the Deputy Commissioner.

Patuakhali DC Abu Hasnat Mohammad Arifin said that the Department of Environment will be fully supported by the district administration in running the mobile court. If mobile courts can be increased in the future, all kinds of balance of the environment will be saved.