![]() ![]() ![]() “We don’t feel good when in the name of development, they disturb the local ecosystem. They said while they are grappling with the impacts of unregulated construction of roads in towns and villages, excavation of resources from the river is adding to their concerns. Excessive and unregulated mining of sand and stones from the river bed and banks can alter the course of the river, leading to disasters in the area, they claimed. Residents said that they are mostly concerned about the environmental impacts of such haphazard mining. District Development Committee, District Administration Office, Kushma Municipality and the office of the Mid-Hill Highway – ‘all have been colluding the company in the illegal excavation of resources from the river, they state. Residents accuse the authorities at the local and district level of conspiring with the company. “Even though we have raised concerns against the haphazard excavation of our resources from the river, the local bodies has turned deaf to our pleas,” she added. ![]() However, it is sad to see that local bodies have been mum while the company is excavating our river banks unabated,” said a woman from Kushma. We live here, and we are witness to what they are doing here. “We think that the company has collected more construction materials than it would require to construct that road stretch. Lama Construction has been tasked with the responsibility of constructing the Modi-Maldhunga section of the highway. ![]() Lama Construction Industries Private Limited has been operating in the Kushma area and has gained notoriety in the area for excavating stones and sand from the river day and night. Stating that the local bodies have been turning a blind eye to the haphazard excavation of sand and stones, they suspected collusion between them and the crusher plant operators. Locals complained that the local authorities are not monitoring construction materials excavated from the river banks by crusher plants. When completed, the highway will be a double-lane blacktopped road from Chiyobhanjyang to Paanchthar to Jhulaghat of Baitadi. To expedite the construction of this project, the government has given various facilities to the contractor, which includes using locally available construction materials. And no one is taking action or concerned with such irregularities,” he fumed.Ĭonstruction of the 1879 km long Mid Hill Highway started a decade ago and is expected to complete by 2022. “It is crystal clear that the crusher plants, in collusion with local body officials are selling construction materials meant for constructing national pride projects illegally to individual homeowners. The locals are equally excited in buying quality aggregate to build their home at lower prices. Requesting anonymity, a local of Kushma said that the crusher plant operators are selling such aggregates to residents at cheaper rates. Most of the houses built in Kushma area of the district are using such aggregates. The aggregate made by these crusher plants which has a distinct white can be seen in use by private buildings. Stones and other construction materials collected by the crushers operating on the riverbanks under the pretext of providing those construction materials to national pride project are selling these materials to individuals for construction residences. Many houses recently built or presently under construction in the district are being supplied construction materials by those crusher plants. It has surfaced that the crusher plants are not collecting construction materials like stones and sand not just for the highway but for elsewhere also. PARBAT, April 13: Crusher plants are exploiting several rivers in Parbat district under the pretext of providing construction material for the under-construction Mid-Hill Highway. ![]()
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