Damauli, March 17

Crusher industries operated in Tanahun are violating the new rules set by the government. There are as many as 14 such industries in the district which are found breaching the law.

It is reported that all the industries are being operated illegally as they have failed to abide by the rules. According to director Ram Bahadur Rana at Small and Cottage Industry Development Committee Office Tanahun, all 14 crusher industries are operating illegally. Rana said that his office frequently urged the industries to abide by the law, but in vain. Accountant Surya Prasad Ghimire at the committee said that his office had written to the industries to pull down their shutters if they failed to respect rules.

According to the committee, Siddeswor, Asoshanti Concrete, Kahnal Boulders and San Block, PK Crusher Industry in Suklagandaki Municipality are in operation violating rules. Similarly, Quality Grid and Crusher Industry, Malati Aggregate at Shivshakti Sand Aggregate Industry, Dhobhan Block Industry, among others, are also flouting rules.

As per the new rules, a crusher industry should be 500 metres away from highway or postal highway, two kilometres away from an academic institution. Similarly, the crusher industry should be two kilometres away from a health facility, religious, cultural and archeological sites, security posts, forests and park area.

Since all the crusher industries are operating with proximity of highway, all of them are illegal. The industries are running in line with rules.

The development committee has written to the industries either to abide by rules or shut them down. As per the new rules, the existing industries should either be shifted or shut down. Some of industries were found not even registered with the committee.

District Natural Resource Monitoring Committee chair and Tanahun acting CDO Tulashiram Poudel said that his office had directed to the crusher industries to abide by the rules. “If they violate rules standards, they will be punished,” Poudel said.

District Coordination Committee Tanahun Chief Shantiram Wagle said that they would monitor all the industries and take action accordingly. “Those industries found operating illegally will be punished severely,” Wagle said.