250 trucks stranded as govt restricts excavation, exports of river products

BIRGUNJ, May 26:

Around 250 trucks and tippers carrying aggregates to India are stranded after the government imposed restriction on excavation and exports of river products.

Kailash Kumar Bajimaya, chief district officer of Parsa, said the trucks and tippers were taken under control after the Central Regional Administration Office issued an instruction to stop excavation and exports of aggregates and sand. The office issued the instruction based on an order issued by the Home Ministry.

“We have received an instruction to control quarrying and exports of river products, including aggregates and sand,” said Bajimaya.

Around 1,140 cubic meters of aggregates and sand are being exported to India every day from Parsa, shows record of Birgunj customs office.

Ram Hari Aryal, Birgunj customs chief, said exports of river products were completely halted from Wednesday following an instruction from the local administration. Pitamber Adhikari, chief of Parsa district police, said all units of local police have been instructed to implement the instruction.

Manoj Sah, president of the Narayani Crusher Industries Association, said around 250 trucks and tippers that were on their way to India are stranded since the instruction from the local administration was enforced on Wednesday.

The government has long been attempting to control exports of river products.

Even the Supreme Court, around three years ago, banned unauthorized exports of river products. Following this, the government constituted a committee to implement the apex court order, which later recommended to the government to close crusher industries that had failed to conduct environment impact assessment, obtain government´s permission and abide by agreed conditions.

However, these efforts could not bear positive results because of political intervention.

Experts and environmentalists have long been putting pressure on the government to ban exploitation and exports of river products in Parsa stating such activities were turning Chure jungle area into a desert.

Even President Ram Baran Yadav has publicly urged the government and people to take effective measures to stop illegal quarrying of river products that are deteriorating the environment of Chure area.

Source: Republica