KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has denied media reports that he directed the concerned authorities to lift the existing ban on extraction of pebbles, aggregates and sands from the Chure region.

The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers issued a statement on Friday and said only discussions were being held about the issue on the basis of suggestions receiving from the concerned ministries.

Earlier, the government had decided to use pebbles, aggregates, sands and other materials from various places to expedite post-earthquake reconstruction tasks.

The OPMCM has claimed that media misinterpreted the decision and produced false reports.