A study team of Roads Division office that came to check the condition of bridges said the bridges over Jhari and Baulaha rivers in Nawalparasi and Tinau river in Rupendehi are at high risks. [break]
Uncontrolled extractions of stones from the rivers has increased the rivers´ depth and shook the bridges´ foundations. With the monsoon season sweeping away boulders, the foundations have further been affected, an engineer at the Roads Division-Butwal said quoting the research team.
The Local Self-governance Act-2055 BS doesn´t allow extraction of stones and pebbles up to 500 meters upstream and downstream from any bridge.
"People are increasingly extracting stones within the 500-meter range," Dipak Bhattarai, chief engineer at Roads Division-Butwal said. "We´ve requested District Development Committee not to allow this form of extraction."
The bridge over Baulaha river too is in vulnerable condition. A crusher plant near the bridge extracts stones and refines it.
The foundations of Tinau bridge are now easily visible to naked eye. With massive extraction of stones from the river, in a decade, the river´s depth has increased by around 12 meters. Of the six pillars, foundations of three pillars are now visible.
Although stones are not being extracted within the 500-meter range, two kilo meter down the river, excavator have been used to extract pebbles in large amounts. This has increased the river´s depth. "Because of underground extraction, the bridge too has been affected," Bhattarai said.
"At the moment, we cannot do anything to preserve the bridges´ foundations. We´ll study the foundations in winter and work for protection," Bhattarai said.
Stones extracted from Koshi barrage exported to India
SUNSARI: Under the directives of the Irrigation Office here, stones have been extracted from the Koshi barrage for export to India. Upon receiving a letter from the Ministry of Irrigation, the chief of Liaison and Land Acquisition Office, Satya Narayan Bhagat, permitted the export of pebbles and stones to India.
"We allowed the export upon receiving the order from the Ministry of Irrigation," Bhagat said. He claimed that although the Supreme Court has prevented extraction of stones from other rivers, stone extraction from Koshi River is continuing. "The Supreme Court has not prevented extraction at Koshi project. In agreement of the two countries, such extraction is allowed."
In July, the SC had banned extraction of stones and pebbles from the rivers of Nepal. After the Sapta Koshi eroded land in India, Indian officials asked for 1,000 cubic meters of stones and they are being exported to India on payment of royalty and VAT, Som Nath Upreti, the chief of Customs at Sunsari said.
Related story
11 bridges along Narayanghat-Mugling road come into operation,...
