DDC forbids contractors from extracting sand and stone from near the bridge while awarding contracts. However, the contractors have openly been flouting DDC directives. [break]
“Excessive mining against the guidelines have increased the threat. It may not have immediate repercussions but will surely invite disaster in the future,” engineer Sushil Shrestha warned.
Chief of Division Road Office in Damak Hari Kumar Pokharel said collapse of bridges could cause losses worth millions of rupees. “We have already written to the DDC to control excessive mining,” Pokharel added.
The DDC allows contractors to extract materials only 200 meters or away from both sides of the bridges and human settlements. “But the contractors have not honored the contracts,” admitted Local Development Officer (LDO) of Jhapa Bhupal Bahadur Niraula. “We have repeatedly written to them but they have turned a deaf ear to our requests.”
Niraula assured that he would leave no stone unturned to control extraction from near the bridges. “We are making plans in coordination with the district administration to control extraction,” Niraula revealed.
Bridges apart, excessive mining has also made the rivers change course and flood villages during monsoon.
Related story
11 bridges along Narayanghat-Mugling road come into operation,...
