It has been found that grits and stones from the region are being exported to India for construction of a highway. Some 500 truckloads of stones and grits are exported to India daily and that too without paying taxes, customs officials claimed. [break]
Of the 13 crusher factories -- eight in Amlekhgunj and four in Makawanpur -- four have Indian investments. The remaining eight have sought operation license, a source at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation said. Though Nepalis have been mentioned as the operators of the plants, the real owners are Indians, the source added.
Forests Minister Deepak Bohara had in June last year banned crusher industry "to save the Chure area from further land erosion". But he canceled his own decision two months later and allowed old crusher factories to run for two years. But a source said one of the crusher plants was established just last month.
Bohara had told the Parliamentary Natural Resources and Means Committee few days ago that there is no crusher plant operating.
Worse still, the export which was halted at the direction of parliamentary committee for nearly 100 days has now been resumed for the last one month.
Forests Minister Deepak Bohara had in June last year banned crusher industry "to save the Chure area from further land erosion". But he canceled his own decision two months later and allowed old crusher factories to run for two years. But a source said one of the crusher plants was established just last month.
“Even during the time when the export was halted, the production continued,” an officer at the Parsa Wildlife Reserve said.
Reserve warden Ram Chandra Kandel, who was appointed only a month ago, on his part, claimed otherwise. He said, “We have stopped all collections. The crusher producers are using only the stones and grits made available by National Forest Area and District Development Committee.”
Locals said rivers are now drying up due to excessive extraction of sand and stones. As a result, people are facing acute shortage of drinking water. Some 500 households in Churemai VDC in Makawanpur are facing water crisis. Similarly, in Amlekhgunj 2, even a stone spout has dried up.
“We have to walk for miles to fetch water now,” Hem Praja, a local of Churiyamai VDC, complained.
More cases of tuberculosis have also been reported in Chure region due to crusher industry. In addition, the wildlife plants are destroyed due to soil erosion during rainy season. “Our lands will soon go barren at this rate,” complained Bidur Khadka of Dumarwana VDC of Bara.
The wildlife animals have also been affected due to the crusher plants that produce noise and air pollution.
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