Riverbed materials in the possession and control of the mafia

Published On: July 6, 2022 03:00 PM NPT By: Upendra Yadav

They excavate the rivers, but do not pay any taxes

BARA, JULY 6: It has been found that the contractors who have signed contracts for extracting riverbed materials from the rivers in Bara district, which has the highest number of crusher plants in Madhesh Province, have not been paying the contract amount and taxes to the state.

It has been found that the contractors from Jeetpur Simara Sub-metropolitan City and Kolhabi Municipality have not paid the value added tax and taxes for additional income to the Inland Revenue Office.

In Jeetpur Simara Sub-metropolitan area, riverbed products are being extracted from Pasah, Dudhaura and Balganga while in Kolhabi Municipality, such materials are being extracted from the Bakaiya River.

The Inland Revenue Office, Simara, Bara has initiated the process of slapping a fine of Rs 17.3 million on Om Suppliers, Kalaiya, that signed the contract for the excavation of riverbed materials from Pasaha River of Jeetpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City.

According to the Inland Revenue Office, Simara, the process of levying Rs 17.3 million on Om Suppliers was moved forward as the supplier had not paid the required revenue for the excavated riverbed materials of the previous fiscal year.

Similarly, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a chargesheet at the Special Court in Kathmandu against Om Suppliers, since the proprietor of Om Suppliers did not pay the promised amount even after signing a contract with Jeetpur Simara Sub-Metropolis for exploitation of riverbed materials.

According to the CIAA Spokesperson Shyam Prasad Bhandari, a case against Om Shanker Prasad, the proprietor of Om Suppliers and the then Chief Administrative Officer Shiva Raj Sedhai had to be filed in the court for not paying the revenue in collusion.

According to Bhandari, a case has been filed against Om Shankar Prasad, the proprietor of Om Suppliers, for embezzling Rs 13.8 million and Shivraj Sedhai, the then chief administrative officer, for embezzling Rs 22 million.

Authorities have filed a chargesheet against Mira Kumari Shrestha, the proprietor of New Pathibhara Suppliers in Hetauda Sub-metropolis-4, Makwanpur district, at the Special Court in Kathmandu, seeking a court order to retrieve Rs 16.6 million from her.