Time and again, Nepali media, including this daily, has been reporting how the export of sand and aggregates to India from the Tarai region is leading to environment degradation. If the unrestrained excavation of sand, grits and stones continues, then there is a real threat of desertification of the whole of Tarai region. An estimated 500,000 truckloads of sand and stones are exported to India each year, which has led to environmental degradation especially in the Chure and Shivalik ranges. Since the country depends on Tarai for most of its food demands, the desertification of such a crucial region is against our national security. Now that many countries have included food security in the framework of national security policy, it is everyone’s duty to make sure that the region stays green and aids in Nepal’s economic development by limiting our food imports.
It is not the first time that the government is warned of the environmental and economic consequences of exporting sand and aggregates to India. In January of this year, the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Means in view of the adverse ecological and environmental impact caused in several districts in the southern belt of the country asked the government to immediately put an end to this practice. However, the government made no attempt to either stop or regulate this environment unfriendly business.
It is also important to note that the state is losing billions of rupees because of this unregulated business. Most of the supplying firms and their crusher plants are either unregistered, or haven’t renewed their license. The government has no idea how many of these firms are operating in the country and the amount of sand and aggregates they are exporting to India. To make the matter worse, vehicles carrying more loads than their actual capacities have led to the damage of our highways and bridges, which, according to a parliamentary sub-committee report submitted recently, estimated would cost Rs 11 billion to repair. However, the government received only Rs 1 billion in revenue from the exports in the last two years. Clearly, in this case, the cost outweighs the benefits and the government would be wise to immediately take a relook at this trade that is not only severely affecting our environment, but also our economy.
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