Saudan Construction Company, won the contract for using gravel and stones of Seuti Khola for over Rs 17 millions in the fiscal year 2068/69 B.S., is now using excavators three kilometers south of the Seuti Bridge. [break]
A year ago, District Development Committee (DDC) of Sunsari had listed the three-kilometer-area south of the Seuti Bridge as a vulnerable zone. However, around 50 trucks of gravel and stones are being extracted from within the vulnerable zone of Seuti Khola every day.
Last week, District Administration Office (DAO) of Sunsari had warned of deploying police to prevent the extraction of gravel and stones from Seuti Khola.
The locals say that the continuous extraction of gravel and stones from the vulnerable zone of Seuti Khola has threatened several settlements in Hansposa and Baklauri VDC of Sunsari.
Asked about the exploitation of natural resources in the restricted zone, Chief District Officer (CDO) of Sunsari Laxman Bahadur Thapa passed the buck to environment officer.
"We have already assigned our environment officer for monitoring the extraction of natural resources from the forbidden area and will take actions against the guilty," said Thapa. Environment Officer Pushpa Chaudhari said he hasn´t had the time to monitor illigal extraction of gravel and stones as he was busy in a series of programs conducted on the occasion of environment day.
Sijan Gurung, of Saudan Company meanwhile said he started extracting gravel and stones from the restricted part of Seuti Khola because "local hoodlums" prevented his company from from taking out gravel and stones from elsewhere.
On the other hand, the company is yet to ay Rs 6 million to the DOA was part of its contract of Rs 17 millions until April.
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