Millions Worth of Riverbed Materials Lost in Dhanusha

April 5, Janakpur Dham – On March 28, monitoring was conducted of illegal extraction, storage, and enforcement processes within wards 3, 8 and 9 of Ganeshman Charnath Municipality in Dhanusha district.

The District Coordination Committee’s inspection team, led by Dhanusha Coordination Committee Chair Rajanandan Mandal, examined the extraction, collection, and sale of riverbed and mineral materials, resulting in a four-point directive.

The second point of the decision stated: ‘Ganeshman Charnath Municipality shall confiscate and legally manage stones, gravel, and other riverbed materials illegally extracted and stored on the right and left banks of the Kamala River embankment.’

The monitoring team included Coordinating Officer and Chief District Officer Prem Prasad Luintel, Dhanusha Police Superintendent Rugambahadur Kunwar, Armed Police Deputy Superintendent Bhim Bahadur Bist, and the municipality’s Chief Administrative Officer Santosh Sharma, among others.

On April 1, the District Coordination Committee sent letters to the District Administration Office, District Police Office, Armed Police Force, National Investigation Department, and Ganeshman Charnath Municipality requesting control over illegal extraction, protection of stockpiles, and necessary actions.

In third week of Chaitra (mid-March), an inspection team led by Deputy Mayor Tulsa Kumari Pandey, with security, measured pits excavated around Kamala embankment. No stockpiles were found on site, raising suspicions that they had been moved to Kamalamai Crusher operated by Bechen Sharma and Kamala Stone Crusher at ward no. 6 run by Santosh Jayswal.

At Kamalamai Crusher, 159,968 cubic meters of riverbed materials including gravel, stones, sand and silt were found with unverified sources. Similarly, Kamala Stone Crusher held 171,648 cubic meters of riverbed material.

These two crushers are considered powerful in the region. Locals say they have operated continuously for years, allegedly controlling the police administration, and many locals are afraid to oppose them.

A municipal employee said, ‘Though stockpiles have been measured, no confiscation or further legal procedures have begun.’ There has been no action on the measured materials so far. According to a monitoring committee official, crusher operators have refused to sign affidavits.

From the measurement of quarry pits and riverbed materials at the crushers, the municipality could generate revenue exceeding 5 million Nepalese rupees. However, the municipality has not taken necessary steps.

No agency, including the municipality and police administration, has taken initiative to act regarding riverbed materials that were moved without verified sources. Responsible officials appear unaware or unwilling to comment.

Both the mayor and deputy mayor have expressed ignorance about the stockpiles. Speaking to reporters, Mayor Jitnarayan Yadav said he had no knowledge on the matter.

‘I only heard about the monitoring team’s visit. At that time, I was out of town. I don’t know what happened afterward. I wasn’t aware whether stockpiles were present or removed. I just learned this from you,’ he stated.

Deputy Mayor Tulsa Kumari Pandey said she personally conducted local monitoring and measurement of stockpiles and planned to revisit the site.

Chief District Officer Prem Prasad Luintel confirmed that after the monitoring, the municipality was urged to expedite collection, confiscation, and auction processes. ‘Regardless of ownership, local police should have offered support if necessary. I am not sure if auction procedures were initiated after measurement,’ he explained.

He added that if stockpiles had been removed, the local government would bear full responsibility. ‘They should have reported if the police were not found,’ he said.

Chair Rajanandan Mandal of the District Coordination Committee said inquiries are ongoing into the removal of riverbed materials.

Riverbed materials stored directly at crushers without verified sources

Last Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., dozens of tractors were engaged in extraction about 500 meters south of the Charnath Khola bridge on the East-West Highway. Extracted riverbed materials were transported roughly 200 meters northeast from the bridge directly to the Kamala Stone Crusher.

Transporting materials directly to crushers violates the law. Contractors can sell materials only after collection, measurement, and certification at designated sites, as per agreement. However, there is evidence of legal violations here.

The extraction site lies within one kilometer of the Ganeshman Charnath Municipality office, yet contractors have violated contracts and engaged in illegal extraction.

For the 2021/22 fiscal year, contractor Brinjay Kumar Singh was awarded a contract for stone, gravel, and sand extraction and sale in Ward No. 10 by the municipality for NPR 9,111,111, signed on January 28. The agreement permits extraction at specified locations only from mid-January to mid-May.

Locals report gravel being extracted up to 15 feet deep against contract terms. Complaints also note disregard for environmental study reports.

The municipality remains silent despite contract violations. Mayor Jitnarayan Yadav remarked, ‘No one cares about unauthorized contracts, but there is unnecessary fuss about authorized ones causing municipal inconvenience.’

Locals like Bali Sharma from Ward 8 have been raising voices against illegal extraction from Kamala and Charnath rivers. They allege that despite risking reporting with evidence, no authority has shown concern, accusing officials of collusion with contractors and lack of enforcement.

Deputy Mayor Pandey said she was unaware that riverbed materials were being transported directly to crushers and believed excavation had stabilized recently with materials stored on-site.

Attempts to contact contractor Brinjay Kumar Singh for comment were unsuccessful as calls went unanswered.

Within Ganeshman Charnath Municipality, the nexus between local representatives and police administration appears to facilitate illegal river extraction. Despite locals raising concerns, complaints remain unheard, no action has been taken against crusher mafias, and operations continue uninterrupted. Workers are intimidated by threats from powerful crusher operators and avoid speaking out.

‘Crusher operators hold significant power and control police administration. They threaten to kill anyone who questions them. Everyone knows their brutal behavior but no legal action occurs. That’s why we don’t risk speaking up,’ an anonymous employee said.