Illegal extraction of riverbed materials continues in Kamala River

By Bijay Kumar Sah,Dhanusha, Jan. 23: Riverbed materials are being extracted illegally in Kamala River, Dhanusha.

Locals said that for months some men have been extracting riverbed materials such as stones, sand, and pebbles throughout the night.

Using tractors, dozers, and other machines, vendors extract riverbed materials around Kamala Bridge, Kartahi community forest, and Barmajhiya areas and bring them to crusher factories, locals said.

However, Portaha Police and the Sub-division Forest Office have not taken any action against these activities even though these offices are in the same area.

Bali Sharma, a local, claimed that local representatives also had not shown concern about the illegal extraction of the construction materials. 

“Local representatives are focusing their attention on money rather than protecting the river. If the extraction of the riverbed materials is not stopped, the existence of the river will be in danger,” said Sharma.

After the locals complained against the extraction of riverine materials, a team led by Rajanandan Mandal, president of the District Coordination Committee, Jitnarayan Yadav, Mayor of Ganeshman Chaarnath Municipality, and Jatashanker Yadav, Police Inspector of Dhalkebar Police Office monitored the spot on 22 November 2024.

In the meantime, Sunita Yadav, a Member of the Provincial Parliament, raised her voice against these activities in the parliament meeting.

Addressing the Provincial Parliament meeting, she delivered a speech, “Isn’t there a law to control the crusher mafia?”

She urged the province government to take immediate action to stop the haphazard extraction of the riverbed materials.

Mayor Yadav said that his Municipality is trying to stop the extraction of the riverbed materials with the help of the district administration office and Police Office.

“We can’t stop these activities alone. Rather, we are seeking support from other stakeholders,” said Mayor Yadav.

Meanwhile, Police Inspector Yadav stated that the police administration has been actively working to stop the extraction of the riverbed materials.

He has also said the police administration has been controlling the tractors and dozers that are used in the exploitation of the riverbed.

However, Bhagalu Mandal, an officer of the Sub-division Forest Office, Godar blamed the police administration for not supporting the action against the illegal works.

Citing that the forest office does not have sufficient staff, Mandal said, “When there are hundreds of tractors and dozers in the river, we request the police administration to send a force. But the police office sends only one or two policemen,” said Mandal.

According to Kapil Phuyal, secretary of the struggle committee against the extraction of riverbed materials, the haphazard illegal extraction of the riverbed materials would create a serious threat to the existence of the river.