SATV 14 May, Kathmandu: Sand and gravel are being extracted from the Bakaiya, Dudhaura and Balganga rivers at four times the permitted limit. However, the concerned authorities remain silent.
Locals alleged that this silence, despite widespread public complaints about river exploitation, indicates financial collusion between the contractors and local government authorities.
Instead of regulating river exploitation, local governments in Bara district have reportedly collaborated with contractors, leading to the drying up of water sources and a growing water crisis in the southern Tarai region.
The situation is worsening due to a lack of timely rainfall. The direct impact of this unchecked river excavation in the Chure hills is now being felt in the plains of the southern Tarai.
With water sources drying up, hand pumps are no longer discharging water, said Umesh Lal Das, chair of the Civil Society in Bara. “Natural water sources emerging from the Chure have stopped flowing unnaturally. Due to excessive river exploitation, the foundations of dozens of old bridges along the East-West Highway are also at risk,” he said.
According to Das, both Nijgadh and Kolhavi municipalities have issued sand and gravel extraction contracts within a kilometre north and south of the bridges, increasing the risk to the structures. The amount of riverbed excavation has exceeded the levels outlined in initial environmental assessments.
This over-extraction beyond contract limits is affecting the environment and contributing to annual water shortages in the lower regions of the district. Experts have criticised both local municipalities and the government for ignoring the consequences, which now include increased risks of floods and landslides.
Nijgadh Municipality has awarded a contract to Shree Ganesh Suppliers to extract 10.3 million cubic feet of material from the Bakaiya River by the end of the current fiscal year 2023/24. However, monitoring has revealed that more than three times the permitted amount has already been extracted, with over a month remaining under the contract.
Similarly, Kolhavi Municipality contracted Mahagauri Suppliers to extract 8 million cubic feet from the same river. A recent report to the District Coordination Committee (DCC) Bara indicated that 75 per cent of the contracted volume had already been extracted a month before the deadline.
While the standard allows for 300 cubic metres of extraction per day, the DCC estimates that the actual extraction is many times higher. Despite this, large-scale excavation continues.
Chief of the District Coordination Committee, Bara, Narendra Sah acknowledged that the recent monitoring confirmed excessive extraction beyond the permitted limits in both Nijgadh and Kolhavi.
Following these findings, he said orders were given to measure the extent of excavation. However, extraction has not been halted. “Our technical team will conduct the necessary measurements. If standards are violated, the extraction will be stopped,” he added.
Chief District Officer Basanta Adhikari said that instructions have been given to immediately conduct a technical assessment of the river's depth and length. Further action will be taken after the report is received.
