Brick kilns near populated areas, fields pose threat to life, crops Pollution in varied forms is emerging as the major threat to the existence of all forms of life in the state as anywhere else in the world. The air pollution in different parts of the state has reached to such an alarming stage that it has started affecting even the production of different crops, the character of the soil. Contrary to the popular perception that the level of pollution is quite higher in urban areas as compared to rural areas, the situation is almost equally distressing there also. While in the urban areas, the smog produced by vehicles, smoke billowing out of different industries, generators etc are considered to be the major sources of air pollution, in rural areas, the brick kilns have been identified as the major pollutants. As per norms, the brick kilns cannot be set up in and around cultivable land besides these should be at a safer distance from the human dwellings. But in the Jammu province and perhaps all across the state, no norms have been adhered to in this connection and one can see the brick kilns dotting the entire rural landscape and in some cases even the urban areas in and around the populated areas. While the concerned authorities have simply turned Nelson's eye towards the violation of norms by these brick kilns which have emerged as major threat to the life around them. Not only this, their existence is adversely affecting the flora and fauna around. What is particularly distressing is the fact that the dangerous pollutants being emitted by these kilns are causing detrimental effect on the fertility of cultivable land, horticulture and floriculture development in the adjoining areas. Negative impact is evident in the form of sharp reduction in the production of various crops in the areas where these kilns have been set up in violation of set norms. The slapdash approach of the concerned authorities towards the law offenders who are contributing immensely to increase the levels of pollution be it in city areas or in the rural areas is simply nauseating. Time is ripe to wake up to the grave reality and take immediate steps to check pollution levels as well as rein in the law offenders.