Illegal riverbed mining of sand and aggregates has increased in various parts of the district. This is more profound in Ridi to Rampur area along the Kaligandaki River.
Illegal riverbed mining of sand is reported also in Ramdi area. The sand is smuggled to other places in Palpa district and towards Syangja as well. Incidences of sand smuggling are also found increasing along the Nishdikhola rivulet since the last few months, according to locals.
The exploitation of natural resources has intensified due to the negligence of the local administration and the local governments. The illegal mining of sand from the bank of rivers and streams has increased the risk of landslides and floods.
Police have impounded three tractors involved in the aggregate smuggling. Deputy Superintended of Police at the District Police Office, Rameshwor Twati, said that a tractor (Lu 4 Ta 5271) was brought under control at a time when it was extracting pebbles and sand from Nishdi rivulet located at Rampur municipality-1.
Similarly, a tractor (Lu 4 Ta 8307) was impounded at a time when it was loading the aggregates after illegally extracting from Kaligandaki river bank at Nishdi rural municipality-1.
Locals complained that pebbles and sand is being smuggled at some of the local levels in collusion with people’s representatives.
Experts said that haphazard extraction of sand even for the construction of structures for river control like embankments by the public bodies has also increased the risk.
