Indiscriminate stone mining poses risk to settlement in Kalikot

By Prem Raj Simkhada,Kalikot Aug. 8: Indiscriminate stone excavation in the Khandachakra Municipality area of Kalikot district has posed a significant risk to the local community.

Whether it is for maintaining the Karnali Lokmarga (highway) or constructing individual houses, the random removal of stones from the public domain poses potential problems for the future, experts said.

Stone excavating has raised a serious issue, as public spaces on the right-hand side of the Karnali Lokmarga and along the river are gradually transforming into riverbeds. Moreover, the areas adjacent to the Karnali Lokmarga have turned into bogs as a direct consequence of this activity.

The construction organisations given the responsibility of maintaining and improving the Karnali Lokmarga are engaging in stone extraction by breaking stones from the river. As a result, numerous small rivers within Khandachakra Municipality have now been reduced to debris and gravel, due to this extensive stone mining. 

The Gaganekhola, Kale Khola, Hulmbazzar Serighat, Megrak Khola, Bihani Khola, Simlegadh, and Pili areas along the Karnali Lokmarga have suffered significant damage. According to locals, public land is accessible to everyone, as the local government lacks interest or involvement in its protection and maintenance.

Local resident Bhawani Acharya expressed concern about the situation and said he was unaware of the whereabouts of the government representatives. He stressed that the escalating risk arises from open quarrying of stones required for road repairs, construction of individual houses and walls, and farming purposes. 

Bale Bishwakarma, a resident of Ward No. 4 of the municipality, pointed at the municipality's silence in protecting the area, while it claims to be monitoring the situation.

The Mayor of the municipality Kamal Bahadur Shahi revealed that he granted permission for the excavation, believing it to be necessary for the development of properties along the river's proximity. He disclosed that the municipality collected Rs. 500 in revenue per tipper of stone for this activity.

As per the locals, there is no revenue-collecting staff in the area, leaving the responsibility of monitoring and collecting fees from construction businesses solely to the municipality. 

Despite this, the employees of the municipality have reported that some construction businessmen have not complied with the requirement to provide even up to Rs. 1000 in revenue, as mandated by the municipality.

According to the staff of the municipality, they are unaware of the decision-making process regarding stone quarrying.