Though there are legal norms to curb illegal and unauthorised brick kilns in Kendrapada district, yet it seems the District Administration has not shown any interest to restrict the brick kilns running without permission and shooting up temperature in scorching summer.

The residents here alleged that after the 1999 Super Cyclone, they have been facing high temperatures in the coastal parts of the district. The cyclone destroyed a big chunk of trees and as a result, the heat wave has been on the rise.

About 50 brick kilns have been set up illegally under Kendrapada township and its adjoining areas this year and it has become a major cause of land degradation, soil erosion, rising of temperature and air pollution in the area.

The brick kilns are mostly set up in agricultural land. They are also situated on the riverbanks. The kilns dig earth continuously to produce bricks from November to May. A brick kiln produces over five lakh bricks annually by rendering the lands unsuitable for agriculture. A kiln uses tonnes of top-soil annually to manufacture bricks. Thus, hundreds of fertile riverside lands have reportedly turned unsuitable for agriculture, said Kishore Swain, an environmentalist.

Though there is ban on setting up brick kilns in agriculture land, it is blatantly violated. Besides, continuous digging of earth also weakens the Govari riverbanks, threatening to change its course.

A kiln, having a chimney, reportedly uses about eight tonne of wood every day during the brick making season. The use of huge quantity of wood in the brick kilns is one of the causes of deforestation in the coastal districts. The use of wood and coal create profuse carbon dioxide that helps intensify air pollution further. But the authorities have been sitting silent over the matter, alleged District Krushak Sabha secretary Gayadhar Dhal.

Many brick kilns are situated near the riverside villages for which the villagers are facing a lot of health-related problems. The mercury level is rising in the vicinity of the brick kiln areas, particularly in summer.

"We are not coming out from our houses as the chimney of the brick kiln emits polluted ashes in our village," said a resident of Sunailo village.