Tension gripped parts of Odisha’s Baleshwar district on Tuesday as local administration and police launched a massive crackdown to dismantle 13 illegal brick kilns operating within the eco-sensitive zone of the Nilagiri sub-division’s Oupada block.
The demolition drive, executed under strict directives from the High Court, met with fierce resistance from local villagers and kiln workers demanding alternative livelihoods.
High Court Mandate and Crackdown
The operation began early Tuesday morning when joint teams of the Nilagiri tehsil and Oupada block administration, backed by heavy police deployment, moved into Shyamsundarpur, Kandagarhadi, and Ishwarpur panchayats. Armed with JCBs and administrative backing, authorities targeted the unauthorised brick kilns operating in the protected eco-sensitive belt near Panchalingeswar and Santaragadia.
Worker Protests and Police Action
As officials arrived at Dashrathipur to begin the clearances, angry workers and residents staged violent road blockades, with several protesters lying down on the roads to halt the machinery.
The situation quickly escalated, prompting police to intervene. Approximately 15 individuals, including a local panchayat sarpanch, were detained. To maintain law and order, authorities imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)—formerly Section 144—in the affected areas and deployed six platoons of police force to keep the peace.
Administration’s Stance and Future Actions
Despite the stiff opposition, the administration pushed forward, successfully tearing down portions of targeted kilns. Protesters, however, argued that destroying the kilns without securing alternative employment sources threatens their survival.
Operating under the direct supervision of the Balasore District Collector, the Nilagiri Sub-Collector, tehsildar, BDO, and senior police officials remained on-site to oversee the exercise. Officials reiterated that all 13 illegal kilns identified in the eco-sensitive zone will be systematically dismantled in compliance with judicial orders.
The situation remains tense but under strict police surveillance as authorities monitor developments closely.
