KATHMANDU, JUNE 1
Nepal Forum of Environment Journalists has disapproved the government announcement that it would pursue the aggregate mining industry to reduce the trade deficit.
The government, in the budget speech for the fiscal 2021-22 on May 29, announced that trade deficit would be reduced by exporting rock, gravel, sand and other aggregates.
NEFEJ has concluded that quarrying in the name of bridging the trade deficit was good for the nation neither economically nor from the social point of view.
Environment journalists have protested the government programme citing that it was brought without any (scientific) study and assessment of its impact on the environment.
In a press statement today, NEFEJ said though the budget did not mention Chure or Shiwalik hills, the studies were enough to show that the Chure region would bear the brunt of this kind of programme.
Chure is the youngest mountain system and is fragile due to its geographical structure. It is closest to the southern border. It stretches to 36 districts from Ilam to Kanchanpur. The then government had on 16 June 2014 banned quarrying and export of rocks, stones, soil, gravel and sand from the area bearing in mind the rampant degradation of Chure region and its implications on dependent people. The move was based on research-based recommendation of a parliamentary committee.
The press release states that the government has at point number 199 of the budget statement mentioned lifting the ban on the export of aggregates. The land in the Tarai and inner-Tarai would turn into desert, there would be acute crisis of water and decrease in production soon after the destruction of Chure, affecting the overall life of Madhes, said NEFEJ.
Similarly, NEFEJ welcomed the arrangement made in point No 160 and 161 of the budget. Saying the ban on production, import, sale, distribution and use of polythene less than 40 microns was appropriate, NEFEJ requested the bodies concerned to make implementation of this provision effective.
The provision made earlier on banning production, sale, distribution and use of polythene less than 20 micron has not yet become effective.
NEFEJ welcomed the government's announcement of providing exemption of renewal charge for five years to petroleum vehicles converting into electric vehicles and reducing the customs duty.
A version of this article appears in the print on June 2, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
