Arghakhanchi Cement operators face court case over illegal mining

Kathmandu, November 19 —  All operators of Arghakhanchi Cement Industry are currently facing legal action in the Palpa District Court.

On November 14, the Division Forest Office in Palpa filed a case against Siddhartha Minerals, a supplier of limestone to Arghakhanchi Cement, for alleged illegal excavation in forest areas. The Division Forest Office accused the company of encroaching on forest land, extracting forest resources without authorization, and engaging in unauthorized transportation and sale of the resources.  

Following the case registration, the court granted permission to detain and investigate the company's chairman, Pashupati Murarka, along with directors Jagdish Kumar Agrawal, Manoj Kumar Kedia, Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, and Binod Kumar Shrestha. Murarka, however, appeared in court the same day and was released on bail after depositing NPR 400,000, according to Court Registrar Keshav Parajuli.  

Other directors, including Jagdish Kumar Agrawal, Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, and Binod Kumar Shrestha, appeared in court today. Manoj Kumar Kedia and representatives from Siddhartha Minerals have yet to appear, Parajuli informed Ratopati.  

Arghakhanchi Cement operates a quarry in Shridanda, Tinau Rural Municipality-3, Palpa. While the company had a permit to excavate 5 hectares of forest land, the Division Forest Office calimed that nearly 7 hectares were exploited, resulting in the excavation of approximately 847,551 cubic feet of limestone.  

Chairman Pashupati Murarka denied exceeding the permitted area, stating, "We have only excavated within the allocated area authorized under our operational rights. All activities have been conducted per the approval of Department of Mines and Geology."