Authorities reluctant to control extraction of river products

Melamchi – The district authorities here are found reluctant to control the extraction of river products from Indrawati River. Rampant extraction of sands, pebbles and stones has diverted the water flow in the river. 

The District Coordination Committee and Municipalities are found reluctant to strictly monitor laws regarding the extraction of river products. Though the DCC and Municipalities have enacted laws to manage the extraction of river products, it is yet to be implemented. 

The stone mining crusher industries are operating along the Indrawati river side breaching the existing laws. According to laws, the crusher industries should be operated 500 meters far from highway and river banks while two kilometers from forest and reserve areas. 

However, most of the crusher industries are found operating after breaching this standard but no concerned authority is paying attention in this connection. 

The locals complained that the concerned authority themselves are guilty in such irregularities. While reaching to Melamchi Municipality Mayor Dambar Aryal, he said that they were not getting such complaints in written form. 

A local from Bahunpati complained that they were failing to sleep in the night due to sound pollution caused by the crushers run arbitrarily. Area Police Office Melamchi Chief, Inspector Parshuram Malla said that they were waiting for an authentic letter from the Municipality to take action against such crusher operators who have breached the laws. 

The crushers have created deep holes in several places along the riverside. Due to it, a 19-year old Karsang Tamang lost his life falling into the hole on April 19. 

Nevertheless, concerned authorities are found reluctant instead of controlling such irregularities. Locals are raising their voices against such incidents but their voices are yet to be heard. 
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