The subcommittee led by lawmaker Chandradev Joshi was formed two months ago after media reports stated that the whole of Tarai region is at risk of turning into desert due to unrestrained excavation of sand, grit and stones and that the over loaded vehicles exporting these materials to India have been creating damaging the roads. [break]
The 32-page report states that the District Development Committees (DDCs) have flouted the provision of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) while awarding contracts for excavation of sand, stone and grit. The parliamentary subcommittee has decided to direct the Ministry of Local Development to immediately shut down such crushers.
The report also states that the DDCs have also awarded contracts for excavation without recognizing the appropriate areas for the work and that the use of heavy machineries including excavators has incurred destruction of the physical infrastructure including bridges and roads. “The situation is such that the state has to invest more on the repair works than the revenue it generates from sand and grit export,” states the report.
In its special recommendation, the subcommittee has also decided to let the collection of sand, grit and stone heaped up by rivers, and direct the government to prohibit the excavation of the materials from other sources without permission from the Department of geology and Mines.
For a long-term solution, the subcommittee has recommended one-door-system for the excavation and export of these materials. The subcommittee has also recommended Social Initial Environment Examination (SIEE) with public hearing to know the ground reality before allowing the excavation of such materials in the future.
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