Dolakha’s crusher industries: No tax, no electricity payments

By Sujan Kafle,Charikot, Aug. 10: Crusher industries in Dolakha have yet to come under the government’s set standards and tax system. Even though the government has issued new guidelines requiring crusher industries to register with the Office of the Company Registrar, many operating in the district have not completed the registration process.

According to the Internal Revenue Service Office, there are 22 crusher industries in Dolakha. Most of them are running without renewal.

Crusher industries that have not submitted their income details include -- Bhage Khola Aggregate Industry Pvt. Ltd., Saraswati Crusher Industry Pvt. Ltd., Moonlight Crusher Industry Pvt. Ltd., Dolakha SK Crusher Industry and Suppliers Pvt. Ltd., Giant Ants Crusher Pvt. Ltd., Divya Aggregate Industries Pvt. Ltd., Golmeshwar Aggregate Pvt. Ltd., Milijuli Crusher Industry Pvt. Ltd., Baiteswor Crusher Industry Pvt. Ltd., Dolakha Jaldevi Crusher Industry Pvt. Ltd., Gumukhola Crusher Industry, Suryalink Aggregate, Malepu Aggregate Industry Pvt. Ltd. and Tamakoshi Aggregate and Industry & Suppliers Pvt. Ltd.

Those that have submitted their income details include -- Bhimeshwor Sand and Gravel Washing Industry Pvt. Ltd., Chandi Aggregate Industries Pvt. Ltd., Chitreshwori Industries Pvt. Ltd., Tamakoshi Sand and Stone Industry Pvt. Ltd., Bhimeshwor Crusher Industries Pvt. Ltd., Dolakha Shree Ekata Aggregate Industry Pvt. Ltd., Tamakoshi Triveni Aggregate Pvt. Ltd. and Mahakali Construction and Biruwa Aggregate.

Industries failing to submit income details have also not paid millions in taxes. Some have been operating freely for more than five years without renewing licences or paying taxes, affecting government revenue. Operating illegally, these industries extract riverbed materials unchecked, increasing the risk of natural disasters and causing the state to lose millions in revenue.

Authorities responsible for monitoring and taking action against crushers operating without following the law, extracting materials illegally from rivers and running in river zones, have remained silent. 

In some cases, individual crushers owe more than Rs. 800,000 in unpaid taxes but still operate without interruption.

Some crusher industries have debts going back over six years. Recently, a tipper truck carrying materials from one of these non-compliant industries was seized but later released.

Bimal Kumar Paudel, Chief Tax Officer of the Dolakha Internal Revenue Service Office, said the process to take action against non-paying crushers has begun and police have been informed to seize trucks carrying their materials. In some cases, the industries have not filed taxes for so long that the total arrears are unknown, he added.

The Nepal Electricity Authority’s Dolakha Distribution Centre said eight crusher industries have outstanding electricity bills. Shubhakamana Construction Service has not paid its electricity bill for 34 months, owing Rs. 500,000. Gumukhola Crusher Industry owes Rs. 659,000, Tamakoshi Aggregate and Industry & Suppliers Pvt. Ltd. owes Rs. 383,000, Dolakha SK Crusher Industry and Suppliers Pvt. Ltd. owes Rs. 366,000, Mahakali Construction and Biruwa Aggregate Industry owes Rs. 291,000, Milijuli Crusher Industry Pvt. Ltd. owes Rs. 229,000, Malepu Aggregate Industry Pvt. Ltd. owes Rs. 110,000 and Dolakha Jaldevi Crusher Industry Pvt. Ltd. owes Rs. 51,000.

Netra Mani Neupane, Chief of the Dolakha Distribution Centre, said the power supply to Shubhakamana Construction Service has been cut off for non-payment. Normally, bills must be paid within two months, and lines are disconnected after that period if unpaid. 

However, some industries with large debts are still running because they make partial payments. In some cases, bills remain unpaid because the industries do not operate during the monsoon, but collection resumes when operations restart.

Chief District Officer Shivaram Gelal said crusher industries with unpaid taxes and electricity bills will be penalised. “The lack of clear guidelines and directives has made regulation difficult. We will coordinate with relevant offices to move forward with enforcement,” he said.