Now, once again, crusher industries have busied themselves in excavating sand and stones from around the bridge. Labors are seen collecting sand and stones amid absolute lack of monitoring. Number of crusher industries including Bangalamukhi, Panchadhuramai, Sonamadai and Jay Bajrang, have been using heavy equipments to excavate mines from Rato, Jangaha, Maraha and Bhabsi river, among others. Tractors and trucks carry those sands and stones away almost all the time.
Last year one feet of the 300 meter long Rato Bridge had sunk down. This matter initially seemed to have alerted stakeholders about the damages done by rampant excavation. With the campaign to save chure seem to take momentum, it was felt that that crusher industries would be disciplined.
However, with the campaign trailing out crusher industries has resumed haphazard excavation of sand stones and sand. And authorities have turned blind to it.
Around 17 crusher industries are in operation in the district which have been excavating from the chure region. Existing law forbids excavation of sand and stones from area of religious, historical and cultural importance. Similarly the law also forbids excavation of sand and stones in forest areas, protected zones, and dense human settlement. Along with these, there are several other laws in existence for the conservation of chure region. If these laws are anything to go by, no single crusher industry should have been operating in the district, experts say.
Commenting on the issue, CDO Birendra Yadav stated that he was 'unaware of the matter' as nobody ever complained the issue to him. He informed that he would coordinate with the district development committee and send a monitoring team in the field without delay. "If the crusher industries have flouted laws, they will be brought to book," he said.
Half dozen bridges on verge of collapse
Due to rampant sand and stone mining in some rivers across the district half dozen bridges are in risk of collapse. Experts claim that Ratu, Bhabsi, Gandanta, Mahara, Dholankhola and Banke bridges can collapse anytime to excess mining in the rivers. Due to excavation, pillars of these bridges have sunken. Ratu Bridge vulnerable condition came to authority' attention, after its pillars were reported to be shaking by locals.
Engineers of the road department state that the age of those bridges cannot be estimated as much damage has been done by excavations of the mining. The department has called for strict action against those involved in illegal excavation of stones and sand.
Locals accuse authorities for turning blind to the illegal mining in the area by crusher industries. "Excavation of stones and sand in one kilometer radius of a bridge is prohibited by law. However due to sluggishness shown by authorities, crusher industries have been rampantly mining around," said Bikru Yadav, an advocate. Yadav said the negligence of the authorities is responsible for the dilapidated condition of the bridges.
An elderly man of 75 years of age added that the industries in fact take the local administration in confidence while doing so. "It is surprising that the administration remains a mute spectator of such activities. It speaks everything," he said requesting anonymity.
Officials at the District Development Committee claimed that the crusher industries were provided license as per law. "We issue tender to the crusher industries by strictly following existing laws," Local Development Officer Krishna Chapagain said in defending the DDA.
He informed that the DDC and the department of roads coordinate to monitor the status of the crusher industries and take actions against those seen flouting laws and putting bridges in risk. "The road department should coordinate with the local administration and book the contractors if they are taking out stones and sands from around bridges and affecting those," Chapagain said.
Locals of Bardibas have meanwhile noted that the government has put people's life at risk by not taking care of the deteriorating condition of the bridges. They also charged that the road division have turned blind eye to the situation despite drawing its attention over the matter number of times.
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