A two-day inspection of the rivers was led by Chief District Officer Kamal Mani Kafle. According to the Cottage and Small Industry Development Office, there are currently seven crushers on the banks of Indrawati and four in Sunkoshi, one of which is situated in Kavre.[break]
The team has concluded that the crusher operators have flouted the rules while registering the industry, illegally used excavator, usurped public land and endangered bridges, among others. “Action will be taken against them” said Kafle.
The team has also instructed the crusher operators to stop the use of excavator for a month and evacuate public land they were using within a week.
Local Development Officer Prem Prakash Uprety said action against will taken against them within a month.
The industries had been warned multiple times in the past to stop functioning illegally. One-and-a-half month ago a ground visit by members of the Natural Resources Committee of parliament instructed the operators to stop flouting the rules.
According to engineer Dayanada Jha of the Division Road Office, the Indrawati Bridge is at risk due to the excessive use of excavators. The team has declared 700 meters around the bridge as restricted area.
The bridge which was built at the cost Rs 40 million and connects Deupur of Kavre and Bhimtar VDC of Sindhupalchowk was brought into operation last year.
“Two meters of the 127-meter long foundation of the bridge has been swept away,” informed Jha, “The bridge will start swaying if an additional half meter of the foundation is swept away.”
Related story
Lending slows as banks focus on recovery of loans at fiscal yea...
