Dhading, September 4 Despite the local administration’s ban, unlawful extraction of river products continues unabated from the Trishuli River in Dhading. Locals accused sand traders for using dozers to extract river materials from the river at night in violation of the ban. They added that the concerned authorities had maintained silence over the illegal sand extraction. People’s representatives in Dhading said that the local administration and police were mere spectators of the illegal acts. Galchhi Rural Municipality Chair Krishnahari Shrestha said the mafia was involved in extracting sand illegally from different places in the Trishuli River at night in collusion with police and local administration. Chair Shrestha added that his pleas to the police and local administration to take action against those involved were ignored. Use of dozers for mining causes the riverbed to sink further, which eventually affects the course of the river. “Natural resources are being depleted so that a few wealthy people can become richer,” Shrestha stated. Dhading Chief District Officer Bhagirath Pandey said that the District Administration Office had directed the police to step up vigilance along the river banks. Shrestha added that involved in illegal extraction of river materials from the river would be arrested and the dozers that were used would be seized if the illegal acts continued.