BAITADI: The Baitadi District Administration Office has banned random gravel and sand extraction from rivers in the district.

Extraction works at areas near rivers, community forests and highly sensitive places have been totally restricted, said Kishor Kumar Chaudhary, Chief District Officer.

According to Chaudhary, the works had been restricted due to the increasing risk of various natural disasters.

There has been illegal quarrying of sands and gravels in Chameliya, Mahakali and Surna rivers of the district. 

Laws require that environmental impact assessment should be carried out before any quarrying or extraction task.

It has been said that a District Monitoring Committee has been monitoring such activities.