Dhading, Apr. 10: Exploitation of natural resources has become a new normal in Dhading, especially in the local rivers. The noise of tippers and excavators stop coming from the rivers when the government authorities become active for a couple of days after public raise their voice against the exploitation; however, after some days, when the authorities change their priority, the noise becomes common again.
The noises are louder in the Trishuli River and the Malekhu River. Excavators continue digging the rivers all the time and the tippers loaded with river materials like sand, stone and pebbles, leave the river banks.
Moreover, the freedom being enjoyed by the traders of river materials shows that the authorities turn deaf ears to the overexploitation of the natural resources. Rabi Lamichhane, who had led the Home Ministry for a month, had directed all the Chief District Officers (CDOs) to stop illegal excavation on January 4 this year.
Many District Administration Offices (DAOs) had then started taking action against the illegal activity, but that has now been a thing of the past, the bustling sound of tippers and excavators in the Trishuli and the Malekhu rivers is a testimony to this.
Lamichhane's decision could not remain in effect for more than three weeks as the ministry, on January 25, allowed the crusher industries to resume their business. Since then, the illegal crusher industries also found a way to resume their activities and started exploiting the riverbed materials.
"Until some years back, there used to be no excavation on our rivers. Now, they excavate the rivers in broad daylight with no one to intercept," said Shiva Prasad Pandey, a local activist. Another local Nabaraj Kandel said that the crusher industries were being set up without following legal procedures.
Before a crusher industry is established, a permission is required from the Department of Mines and Geology. The permission is provided only after the environment impact assessment report is studied.
However, after the local governments came into existence in 2017, local governments are responsible to monitor and inspect the operation of crusher industries. Many argue that the local governments are not keen to stop the illegal mining.
Dhading's CDO Ramesh Dhakal informed that the Home Ministry, on November 10, 2020, had directed all the DAOs to stop excavation. "But the cabinet, on December 8, 2020, decided to hand over all these responsibilities to the local levels," he added.
According to Dhakal, the DAOs have also been reluctant to take stern action against illegal excavation after the authorities, such as revenue collection, contract allotment and inspection, were transferred to the local levels.
Stakeholders argued that the rivers will be exploited rampantly if the concerned authorities did not take steps against the illegal mining. Nevertheless, local levels argued that they were allowing only legal crusher industries to excavate the materials under the prevailing laws.
"We should do more development and very less devastation. Extreme devastation in the name of development is not acceptable. It is why strict laws and regulations to allow limited and health excavation is a must," said Ganesh Lal Shrestha, chairman of Gajuri Rural Municipality of Dhading.
