YADGIR: Land acquisition for implementation of several development projects, including deputy commissioner’s office and court complexes, medical college and drug industries, on the outskirts of Yadgir city and emergence of cement brick manufacturing units have had a disastrous impact on the earthen brick kilns.
There were about 50 such plants in the district four to five years back but it has come down to 10-12. It was easy for the units to get clay a few years back but now they are struggling for it due to dearth of land.
The units have to go in search of soil and shell out extra money for the raw material. People associated with brick kilns are of the opinion that they may not be able to carry on this work for long. The presence of concrete brick plants in the region is affecting the traditional kilns.Mohammed Arif Naik, proprietor of an earthen brick plant, told Express that this venture has been witnessing a downward trend in the last three-four years for various reasons, including land acquisition.
Naik say clay brick kilns require more labourers unlike cement units. Besides, the contractors and engineers prefer cement bricks to earthen bricks as they can complete the construction with a few labourers.
“We manufacture as many bricks as possible from November to March every year and keep them ready for customers. The dearth of labourers is another major hurdle for us. We are paying `2 lakh to labourers as advance to ensure they do not quit work midway,” Naik said. “A labourer could earn `75,000 to `1 lakh in five months provided he/she works from 4 am to 6 pm every day. Earlier, we could get the amount of soil required to make one lakh bricks for just `25,000. Now, we have to pay nearly `50,000 for the same quantum of soil. This is the ill-effects of land acquisition. If this situation continues for a few more years, we will be forced to close down and opt for other works for a livelihood,” he added.
Downfall of Traditional Industry
There were about 50 clay brick units in the district four-five years back but it has come down to 10-12
The plants are hit hard by land acquisition for development projects, dearth of labourers and rise in cement brick units