Local unit unable to stop haphazard excavations

Published On: April 23, 2019 02:30 AM NPT By: Narhari Sapkota


GORKHA, April 23: Haphazard excavation of resources on the banks of the Trishuli, Budi Gandaki, and Daraudi rivers is highly prevalent despite instructions from the local governments of Gorkha to bring such activities to a halt.

“Some projects are in accordance with the set standard, while most are seen violating the rules,” said Maan Prasad Dhital, spokesperson of the District Coordination Committee (DCC) which conducted a recent study.

Dhital informed that the authorities had allowed only smaller vehicles to excavate but some rural municipalities were witnessing the usage of heavy equipment like dozers and cranes. Most projects are accused of excavating without Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) report or permission from the concerned authorities, prompting the DCC to send notices to halt all such projects.

Dhital confirmed that the projects he instructed to halt belong to Gandaki Rural Municipality, on the banks of the Trishuli River.

Chairperson of the Gandaki Rural Municipality, Hom Bahadur Rana, confirmed to have not given permission to conduct a single such excavation. Rana said the rural municipality has issued orders for immediate confiscation of machinery and strict punishment for the project officials as per the instruction of the DCC. The DCC has however allowed smaller vehicles to be a part of the excavation upon the request of the local government.

The DCC has instructed the local government of Gorkha to stop all illegal excavations by Tuesday.

An investigative committee, under the leadership of vice chairperson Januka Adhikari, had been formed for the inspection of all excavations, informed the DCC chief Ashok Gurung. The excavation projects had been initiated in order to provide constant, uniform supply for the post earthquake reconstruction projects in Gorkha –the epicenter of the 2015 earthquake.

The projects have been found disregarding rules and disobeying all authoritative bodies, and enjoying their monopoly.


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