Outrage in Dabas: 5 Massive Illegal Brick Kilns Operating with Impunity as Dang Administration Ignores Environmental Devastation
The pristine natural beauty and dense forest cover of the Dang district, often called the “Kashmir of Gujarat,” are currently under severe threat. In a shocking revelation from Dabas village in Ahwa Taluka, several illegal brick kilns have mushroomed, operating in complete defiance of environmental laws and administrative regulations. Local residents are expressing deep anger, alleging that these units are functioning under the “sweet eyes” or complacency of the local administration, causing irreversible damage to the region’s unique ecosystem.
Severe Violation of Environmental Norms and Destruction of Forest Wealth
The situation in Dabas village has reached a boiling point as the Illegal Brick Kiln operations continue to expand without any legal oversight. According to the raw reports, these kilns are not just business units but environmental disasters in the making. The most alarming aspect of this illegal trade is the indiscriminate use of forest wood. To fire the kilns and bake thousands of bricks, operators are reportedly using massive quantities of wood sourced illegally from the nearby protected forests of Dang.
This blatant theft of natural resources is stripping the hills of their green canopy. Furthermore, the Illegal Brick Kiln activities are being carried out on fertile agricultural land without the mandatory Non-Agricultural (NA) certification. This process involves stripping the nutrient-rich topsoil, which destroys the land’s productivity for decades. For a district like Dang, where the local tribal community depends heavily on forest produce and small-scale farming, this land degradation is a direct blow to their livelihood and future security.
Air Pollution Crisis: Public Health at Risk in Ahwa Taluka
The residents of Dabas village are not only worried about the trees but also about the very air they breathe. These Illegal Brick Kiln units lack high-capacity chimneys or pollution control filters required by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB). Consequently, thick, toxic black smoke is constantly released into the atmosphere, settling over the residential areas like a suffocating blanket. The elderly and young children in the village are the worst hit, with many reporting increased instances of coughing, breathlessness, and other respiratory ailments.
Despite several oral complaints made by the villagers, the “sleepy” administration has failed to take any concrete action. The toxic emissions contain high levels of particulate matter and carbon monoxide, which are known to have long-term health implications. The silence of the health and environmental departments in the face of such a visible crisis has led many to believe that the health of the citizens is being sacrificed for the illegal profits of a few influential kiln operators.
Questions Over the Role of District Collector and Mining Department
Under the standing laws of the Government of Gujarat, starting a brick kiln requires multiple clearances, including those from the Geology and Mining Department and the GPCB. A major part of the legal process involves paying royalties to the state for the soil and minerals used. However, the Illegal Brick Kiln operations in Dabas are allegedly evading all these taxes and royalties, causing a significant loss to the state exchequer.
People are now openly asking: Why is the Dang District Collector’s office silent on this matter? How can hundreds of thousands of bricks be produced and transported right under the nose of the administration without a single inspection? There are growing suspicions of a “nexus” or internal understanding between the kiln owners and lower-level officials. While a common citizen faces immediate penalties for minor construction violations, these massive illegal operations seem to enjoy a strange immunity from the law.
Rising Corruption and Demand for Urgent Administrative Intervention
The smell of corruption is becoming as thick as the kiln smoke in Ahwa Taluka. The local conscious citizens point out that the mineral department’s officials have not visited the site even once to verify the source of the clay or the payment of royalties. This lack of accountability suggests a deep-rooted systemic failure. The Illegal Brick Kiln owners are reportedly earning crores of rupees while the environment pays the price in gold.
The villagers have now issued a stern warning. They are demanding that the District Collector immediately appoint an independent inquiry committee to investigate the Dabas village sites. If the administration does not wake up from its slumber and seal these illegal units, the people of Dabas and surrounding areas are prepared to launch a massive public agitation (andolan). They believe that protecting the “Environmental Heritage of Dang” is not just a choice but a necessity for their survival.
Conclusion: A Call to Save the Green Lungs of Gujarat
The case of the Illegal Brick Kiln in Dabas is a test for the Gujarat government’s commitment to environmental preservation. Dang is one of the few places left with significant forest cover, and allowing such destructive activities to continue is an invitation to ecological collapse. The time for “sweet eyes” and administrative negligence must end. The people of Dang deserve clean air, protected forests, and an administration that values the law over illegal profits.
#AhwaNews #DangUpdates #IllegalBrickKiln #DabasVillage #EnvironmentalViolation #GujaratPollutionBoard #AhwaTaluka #SaveDangForest #CollectorDang #PublicHealthRisk #IllegalMining #DangDiaries #GujaratNews #ForestProtection #MiningRoyalty #EcoCrisis
📌 Note:
This article is published on OurVapi.com The information presented is based on public sources, local inputs, field observations, and the author’s independent assessment. It is intended to be useful primarily for readers from Vapi, Valsad, Umbergaon, Sarigam, Bhilad, Silvassa, Daman, and nearby regions.
The core objective of OurVapi.com is to deliver accurate, useful, factual, and verified information with a strong focus on local news, public awareness, culture, lifestyle, and community-related topics.
If you found this article helpful, please share it and leave your thoughts in the comments section.
Stay connected with OurVapi.com for reliable local news, updates, and community-focused content.
