Locals seize excavator, tipper trucks in Satgadhi over illegal river mining

BUTWAL: The illegal extraction of river materials at Satgadhi in Ward-12 of Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City has left locals in a state of fear and surprise.

The construction company involved in the Butwal–Gorusinghe road expansion project was found excavating river materials around 200 meters north of the bridge construction site in Satgadhi from 4 pm on Saturday. The incident came to light after people residing in settlements on both sides of the river protested the extraction.

Following complaints by the local people, police have taken excavators and tipper trucks involved in the extraction and transportation of river materials under control. “We took the action following complaints by the local people,” said DSP Indra Rana, chief of the Area Police Office, Butwal.

Bet Kumari Wagle, chairperson of the Ganesh Tol Development Committee, said they intervened after truckloads of river materials were extracted from the stream that lies between Satgadhi and Ganesh Tol without any notice or information. “As many as 20 truckloads of river materials were extracted and transported from the river,” Wagle said. “When we tried to stop them, they said they were extracting river materials for bridge construction.”

Min Bahadur Pun, a local of the area, said they informed police after machines started aggressive excavation in a densely populated area during the monsoon. “Since the excavation posed a direct threat to the settlement, we intervened and stopped their work,” Pun said. “Later, the company’s manager, Bhanu Joshi, came and said everything would be managed. When we asked for papers or documents, he left.”

Pun demanded action against all those involved in the illegal excavation.

Although a representative of Ashish Nirman Sewa Nepal JV, the company involved in the extraction of river materials, claims that they excavated river materials for bridge-filling works, they have been dumped around 200 meters east of the site.

Kushalata Neupane, chief engineer of the Butwal-Chandrauta Road Expansion Project Office, said the construction company was not permitted to excavate up to 200 meters away from the project site and that clarification will be sought from it.

The bridge at Satgadhi, under the Butwal-Gorusinghe Road Expansion Project, is being built by the Chinese company Shanxi Construction Engineering Group and Ashish Nirman Sewa Nepal JV.