Illegal Crusher Operations in Nuwakot Spark Public Outcry Over Environmental Damage and Health Risks

Nuwakot. Local residents have been suffering due to illegal crusher industries operating in various parts of the district. Illegal excavation in rivers and streams is intensifying. Due to a lack of laws and weaknesses in regulatory bodies, natural resources are being misused, and revenue collection is also being circumvented.

Widespread protests are ongoing against the illegal crusher industries operating at various points along the Likhu River, which flows westwards through Shivapuri Panchakanya and Likhu Rural Municipality in southeastern Nuwakot, citing adverse effects on the health of local people. These crusher industries, operating under the protection of various political parties in the name of constructing the East-West Mid-Hill Highway, are not only exploiting millions of rupees worth of riverine materials like stones, gravel, and sand but have also placed surrounding settlements at risk of disaster.

Locals complain that while there is a risk of floods and landslides during the monsoon, the dust and smoke make it difficult to live there during the dry season. Although the road section under the Mid-Hill Highway project has been completed, the illegal industries, registered under the project name, have been continuously operating for the past ten years due to the patronage of local representatives and political parties.

While illegal industries operate, the revenue collection target that should be received accordingly remains unfulfilled. Affected locals have complained that the river and stream, which are community common property, have become a source of income for local political parties, and regulatory bodies have shown no interest.

Shivapuri Rural Municipality Chairman Govind Prasad Thapaliya admitted that crusher industries established for road construction under a national pride project are still operating even after the project completion. He stated that although the municipality has attempted to regulate industries operating under permits obtained for the project, there is a problem of legal deficiency. "No formal complaints or grievances have been received regarding the pollution and natural exploitation caused by the operating crusher industries," Chairman Thapaliya said, "The municipality is ready to take action if complaints are received."

He claimed that the municipality facilitated necessary procedures, such as electricity recommendations for the continuous operation of temporary crusher industries established in the name of the project, within the legal framework. However, locals demand that this facility be stopped.

About half a dozen crusher industries are in operation starting from Talakhu in Shivapuri-1 and extending to the area connecting to Likhu Rural Municipality in the district. Locals have been complaining that these industries, which are supposed to operate temporarily, are illegal. The annual renewal, operational monitoring, and compliance with standards of these industries are beyond the reach of the local government as well as the district-level monitoring committee.

Regulatory bodies are unaware of who takes the stones, gravel, and sand extracted from the river for these crusher industries, for what purpose, and where they are transported. Industries permitted for the project are only allowed to use the produced materials for that specific purpose. However, due to the lack of monitoring by the relevant regulatory bodies, illegal activities from excavation to transportation are being encouraged.

Rabin Karki of Sheragar in Shivapuri Rural Municipality-5 lamented that the illegal excavation of riverine materials from the Likhu River has put his house and fields at risk of erosion. The riverbed is sinking due to continuous extraction of construction materials. Farmlands and settlements near the river are at high risk of riverbank erosion. Karki complained that the excavation, which goes deeper than the prescribed standard in the river, has caused the water level to drop so much that the dams farmers use for irrigation no longer receive water.

Sailo Tamang of Shivapuri-6 complained that the illegal excavation of riverine materials washed away one ropani of his arable land. According to him, the illegal excavation done when the river surface is small during winter changes the flow during the monsoon, putting the settlement at risk. He expressed distress that his repeated appeals to local representatives regarding the injustice have been ignored.

Chief District Officer Shambhu Prasad Regmi stated that an investigation is underway to determine the legality of the crusher industries operating in various parts of Nuwakot, and action will be initiated accordingly. He said that industries deemed illegal will be shut down in collaboration with the project that granted the operation permits, local governments directly involved in monitoring, and other relevant bodies.

"Based on complaints received from some areas regarding the legality of the industries, we are collecting details from across the district," said CDO Regmi. "We will shut down those found to be illegal through collaboration with various agencies involved in granting permits, awarding excavation and transportation contracts, and collecting revenue." He clarified that the administration was unaware that the crusher industry operating in Sherabagar, Shivapuri-5, for the past ten years was illegal, and they are committed to bringing everyone under the legal framework in the future.

Local Kapil Gotame complained that the illegally operating crusher industry has severely affected the health of local residents and made daily life difficult due to noise pollution. "The illegally operating crusher industry for a long time is due to the weakness and protection of regulatory bodies," he said. "When locals complain to various agencies, there is no hearing. Those who claim injustice are instead threatened and silenced."

Industries that took temporary crusher operation permits have been operating against standards, evading revenue without renewal for many years. These industries, which should have closed after the work specified for the project area was completed, have been running for the last ten years.

Schools, hospitals, and other sensitive areas are located within one kilometer of these industries. Due to the non-enforcement of laws, the dust and smoke from the crusher industries, the loud noise from the equipment, and the movement of heavy machinery used to transport construction materials are directly affecting schools and hospitals.

Local residents are waiting patiently, hoping that the complaints repeatedly lodged by schools and hospitals regarding bringing the illegally operating crusher industries under the legal framework and regulating them will be addressed soon. They have warned that if their demands are not heard, they will be forced to shut down the illegal crusher industries themselves by protesting.