Illegal excavation did not stop even after increasing the fine

Kathmandu : Although the local level has increased the amount of fine to stop illegal excavation of riverine materials like stones, ballast and sand in Gorkha, smuggling has not been stopped. Police have taken under control 24 vehicles for extracting stones, ballast and sand since Bhaisak.

DSP Prakash Dahal of the District Police Office said that 10 tippers and 10 tractors were taken under control. Police also seized two JCVs and two excavators. The operators of the seized vehicles have paid a fine of Rs 415,000 in a month and a half.

According to DSP Dahal, 81 vehicles used for illegal excavation and transportation have been impounded since the beginning of the current fiscal year. According to the police, these means have paid a fine of Rs 18 lakh 89 thousand to the local level.

Excavations have been carried out illegally, transportation has been done without permission, and the vehicles without bills have been taken under control by the police and sent to the concerned local level. After informing the police about the fine imposed by the local level, the vehicle under control can finally be taken away by the rich.

The District Coordination Committee has fixed the amount of fine in the fiscal year 2075/76 BS to stop illegal excavations in Gorkha. The vehicles found during the excavation and carrying riverine materials were fined Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000. In the fiscal year 2076/77 BS, the local level itself made a law to stop illegal excavation of riverine materials from the town and village assemblies.

But according the municipality, when the rate of different fines is maintained, there is a lot of smuggling in the municipality with small fines.

“We have taken action against the vehicles involved in illegal excavation and transportation,” said Rajan Raj Pant, mayor of Gorkha Municipality. Stating that the illegal excavation has increased the revenue of the local level, he said, “We had imposed many fines to prevent illegal excavation, but it has not been stopped.”

Some have said that the smuggling has not been stopped due to low fines.

(Source : Nagarik News)