Illegal riverbed mining still rampant in Gaushala

By Mahesh Kumar Das

Jaleshwor, July 31 : The executive meeting of Gaushala Municipality of Mahottari district on July 13 decided to intensify surveillance and security to eradicate illegal riverbed mining from the rivers in their area. 

However, mining and selling of construction materials like sand and pebbles from the rivers are still rampant. Police have confiscated around half a dozen different heavy vehicles while excavating rivers and transporting excavated materials over the days after the decision but to no avail.

Recently, on Friday, police impounded two tippers and a JCB vehicle from the Banke River while excavating illegally.

Similarly, on July 14, one excavator was detained from the Maraha River while excavating and its driver 20-year-old Roshan Sing, an Indian national, was arrested. According to Gausahala Municipality, the excavator was registered under Kalika Sand and Washing Centre.

Even before July 13’s decision, dozens of heavy vehicles including tractors and tippers have been impounded for illegal excavation and smuggling of riverbed materials. Following the stringent steps by Gaushala, neighboring Bardibas Municipality has also strengthened its surveillance along the rivers.

Three individuals and two vehicles were detained by the police on July 21 while they were excavating materials from the Ratu River at midnight. Excavators and JCB were detained on July 14 from the river as well.

The arrested individuals and impounded vehicles are handed over to the District Coordination Committee for the further legal process. A tractor arrested for the first time for illegal excavation is fined Rs. 7,500, a six-wheeler vehicle Rs. 20,000, a 10-wheeler Rs. 25,000, a JCB Rs. 50,000 and an excavator or loader Rs. 60,000.

If the vehicles are arrested for the same reason again, they are required to pay double the amount in fines. And, if a vehicle is arrested for the third time, authorities can permanently seize the vehicle.