Lalitpur, June 30:

Locals of Chapagaon today sought attention of the authorities concerned to implement the decision of the Parliamentary Natural Resources Committee to shut two stone quarries.

At a programme organised at Jhyalungtar village, Govinda Hari Bista, president of Jhyalungtar Community Forest Users’ Group said the committee made the decision to close down the stone quarries, Purna Dhunga Roda Udhyog and Champur Dhunga Roda Udhyog, following the demand of the forest users’ group.

Bista also blamed the stone quarries for adversely affecting agricultural production, drying up

of water sources and increasing air pollution in the locality.

“The stone quarries have been affecting the local environment and inviting deforestation for which the locals have been protesting since 1983.” Earlier in August, the District Development Committee of Lalitpur had decided to shut the quarries indefinitely following the clash between the locals and the quarry owners. An all-party meeting held in December also decided to close down the quarries after six months.

However, proprietor of Champaur Dhunga Roda Udhyog, Khadga Maharjan, presenting the registration and other documents at the Department of Mines and Geology claimed running the two quarries line with the laws.

The technical team under the Lalitpur DDC also suggested relocating the quarries.