A mobile court in Lama upazila on Sunday fined two brick kilns Tk 50,000 for running their operation illegally and burning timber as fuel.

The court, led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Khin Nu, also destroyed the brick kiln chimneys made of tin. Besides, the court seized 1,600 cubic feet of timber from the kilns.

The two brick kilns are adjacent to Shivatoli Para and Mong Baching Para, said the UNO.

Ching Marma, a resident of Shivatoli Para, said although the upazilla administration demolished the two brick kilns, the owners started their operation again.

Locals said about 55 kilns have started operation in Lama, Alikadom, Ruma, Naikhangchhari and Sadar upazilas defying the environmental laws.

The brick kilns are polluting the environment badly in the areas.

Indigenous people of the affected areas are facing severe water crisis as the kiln owners have destroyed the water bodies.

The most affected villages are Shivatoli Para, Mong Ba Ching Para, U Mra Mong Headman Para and Meaung Para of remote Faitong area under Lama upazila.

Contacted, UNO Khin Nu said “We are really helpless to stop the operation of illegal brick kilns in the upazilla as most of the kiln owners showed us a stay order from the High Court.”

There are 24 illegal brick kilns in only Faitong union of Lama upazilla of the district.