Damauli: Tanahun District Development Committee has banned the extraction of river resources from Rihaleghat of Chokchisapani VDC in the district.

The DDC has banned extraction of sand, boulders and stones, among other river materials, saying it was against the agreement signed with the concerned authority.

Sources at the DDC said the committee had banned the extraction from river after locals complained of rampant rivermining.

The locals had reached the District Administration Office and DDC office, and demanded a temporary ban on the extraction.

Local Development Officer Udayaraj Rana said the DDC had banned the extraction of sand, stones and boulders, among other river products, from Rihaleghat. “We have taken immediate initiative after complaints were recorded at the office,” he added.

Chief District Officer Purusottom Kunwar said a monitoring team was deployed to investigate the matter. “After local folks complained that river materials worth millions of rupees were being extracted in a haphazard manner, the authority decided to ban it,” he informed.

The locals had complained saying that the use of excavators to extract from the river was putting human settlements at high risk, informed the DAO.