Govt to study feasibility of exporting sand, aggregates

KATHMANDU: The government has said it would assess the viability of exporting sand, stone and aggregates by ensuring minimal impact on the environment.

Presenting the government’s policies and programs for the fiscal year 2023/24 on Friday, President Ram Chandra Poudel said emphasized the government would study the feasibility of exporting sand, stone and aggregates while ensuring environmental sustainability. He also said the government will bring necessary law to facilitate the export.

However, this is not the first time that the government has expressed its intention to explore the feasibility of exporting sand, stone and aggregates. The KP Sharma Oli-led government had also included this proposal in the fiscal budget of 2021/22. However, it hadn’t materialized after the Supreme Court ruled that the extraction of stones, aggregates, and sand should be limited to domestic consumption.

The apex court had said the destruction of nature shouldn’t be allowed in the name of increasing exports.