BAJURA, JANUARY 31

The illegal mining of river products has continued unabated from Bahuli river in Badimalika Municipality-7 of Bajura district.

Scores of loading vehicles are seen ferrying river products including sand, gravels, and stones from the river daily. The illegal mining is being carried out in areas not very far off from the district headquarters Martadi. However, the administration is mum regarding the illegal operations.

Extraction of sand from the river has increased the danger of land erosion in the area. Around 12 families were displaced in the area some years ago after the river eroded their land.

It has been found that mining operations in the district are being carried out without any regard to regulations such as conducting the environmental impact study and primary environmental assessment before the extraction of any kind of river-based products. Before extracting such materials, there should be an adequate study of the impact of such operations on the environment, engineer Dipak Bharati said.

Illegal extraction at Bahuli river has increased the risk of landslides and floods in the nearby settlements, informed Sher Bahadur Shahi, chair of Community Forest Consumers Federation.

Similarly, the illegal activity is also rampant at Sera Bagar of Budhiganga Municipality-3 besides legal extraction of river products in which a tax of Rs 2 per cubic foot is levied on the extractors.