RAUTAHAT, SEPTEMBER 6
River-borne materials collected from major rivers in Rautahat are being sold from the stock without inspection being carried out by the authorities concerned. Likewise, large stones and boulders are being collected and piled up in areas north to the East-West Highway.
Despite the unlawful piling of stones, the authorities have shown apathy, raising questions among locals about the authorities' involvement in the illegal piling up of stones.
Stones are being smuggled from Chure Phedi of the Chandi River banks in Chandrapur Municipality. Stone traders are benefitting from the sale of stones and boulders from restricted areas.
Locals allege that smuggling of stones and boulders in around a dozen tractors from Chure range has affected the President Chure Conservation Programme. Smuggling of stones and boulders has not stopped in the areas where the President Chure Conservation Programme is under way. Sources say that stone smuggling continues unabated in cahoots with the authorities concerned. Locals accuse that stone smuggling has increased due to apathy on the part of Forest Users' Committee, Forest Division Office, and local levels. Chure Conservation Programme has been implemented in 30 kilometres of Chure area from Dhansar Khola to Bagmati in the district.
The provision has it that the stock of river-borne materials should be sold only after the District Monitoring Committee inspects it. However, the committee has not inspected the stock of river-borne materials though one and a half months have passed since the new fiscal year began.District Monitoring Committee Coordinator District Coordination Committee President Ram Ayodhayay Yadav, expressed ignorance about the inspection. "We do not have the manpower. Thus we will inspect the stock of the river-borne materials in collaboration with security forces," Yadav said.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 07, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
