Biggest action launched on illegal excavation in Dhanusha

By Vijay Kumar Sah,Dalkebar, Aug. 14: The biggest action to date against illegal excavation of riverine materials has been launched in Dhanusha. 

The Forest Office in Dhansha has filed a case in court seeking the auction of two excavators seized during the illegal extraction of forest products and demanding legal action against three crusher industry operators involved in the activity.

The Division Forest Office Chief, Bechan Chaudhary, said that a case has been filed in the Dhanusha District Court to auction the seized excavators with registration numbers Na 1 Kha 8955 and Ba 2 Kha 6317, which were confiscated during illegal extraction in the Kamala River forest area in Dhanusha.

He, further, informed that cases have also been filed against Bechan Thakur Barhi and Rambabu Thakur Barhi, the operators of the Jai Bajrang Sand Processing Industry, and Sanjay Sharma, the operator of Kamalamai Crusher Industry, on charge of involvement in illegal extraction and transportation of forest products.

Chaudhary said that a significant crackdown was necessary to discourage illegal excavation activities. He also said that in the past, minor penalties were imposed on the condition of not repeating the wrongdoing, but this was ineffective in controlling illegal excavation, necessitating stronger action this time.

He also added that the seized excavators are currently kept in front of the police post in Portaha.

Kafil Kafle from Godar described this as the biggest action taken so far against illegal excavation in Dhanusha. “When the police seized vehicles and handed them over to the local authorities and the District Coordination Committee, they fine Rs. 5,000 for a tractor, Rs. 10,000 for a tipper, and Rs. 20,000 for an excavator before releasing them,” he informed. Releasing them after imposing minor fines had emboldened the illegal excavation mafias. He believed that this crackdown by the Forest Office would help control illegal excavation to some extent.