SIRAHA, Jan 3: The extraction of riverine materials from the Balan, Sarre, and Khutti rivers in Lahan Municipality has been halted for four months due to the Division Forest Office withholding its recommendation to the Provincial Ministry of Forests and Environment for an environmental impact assessment (EIA).
Lahan Municipality’s revenue has taken a hit as contracts for riverine material extraction remain unawarded, impacting various development and construction projects. Chief Administrative Officer Jayakant Jha criticized the Forest Office for delaying the recommendation despite the municipality completing all procedural requirements. “We have sent four letters this month, but no action has been taken,” Jha said.
Local unit against DFO over resource extraction
Jha further alleged that the Forest Office is stalling the process by not adhering to Sub-section (4) of Section 9 of the Environmental Protection Regulations, 2077, which allows the concerned body to seek opinions from government agencies regarding the EIA.
Meanwhile, Shailendra Kumar Mishra, Chief of the Division Forest Office, stated that the municipality’s application is under review. He said, “Extraction in forest areas is prohibited, and the issue arose because the request included forest zones. We will assess the proposal and proceed accordingly.”
