According to District Forest Officer Dhananjaya Poudel, they asked the DDC to adhere to the ministry-level decisions reached on July 11, 2013 and February 28, 2014.

“As the decision demands for the conservation of streams in the Chure region and removal of crusher industries operating without license and flouting regulations, we have issued a written circular urging the DDC to halt its tender process for the extraction and transportation of sand, stone and gravel, among other mineral deposits, from such streams,” Poudel said.

He stated that if the DDC fails to deliver on its responsibilities, the DFO will be compelled to take due action.

The Small and Cottage Industries Office (SCIO) had also forwarded a written recommendation seeking the removal of illegal crusher industries a couple of weeks ago. Of the nine crusher industries operating in the district, eight do not meet the set criteria.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MoCI) has extended the deadline from mi-April until mid-July to facilitate the relocation of the crusher industries, Shreedhar Panthi of the SCIO said.

The criteria set by the government for the operation of crusher industries state that such industries should be 500 metres away from rivers or highways; 100 metres from high tension electricity cables; 200 metres from educational institutions, health organisations, security agencies, religious and archaeological sites, national parks, wildlife reserves

and human settlements and 100 metres away from Chure area and international borders.

The field report sent to the MoCI states that Kalika Crusher Industry of Dibyapuri-4, Trishakti Jarahi Crusher and Screen Plant of Rajhar-5, Parasi Stone Crushing Pvt Ltd of Rajhar-1 lie within 500 metres from the river and highway.

Likewise, Manakamana Crusher Industry of Pragatinagar-1 and Lumbini Stone Crusher Industry of Sunwal-4 are located within 500 metres from the river.

Similarly, New Mahalak-shmi Stone Aggregate of Agyauli-3 lies within 500 metres from river and highway and 200 kilometres from forest area, while Mahalakshmi Stone Crushing Screen Plant Pvt Ltd of Rajhar-6 is within 200

metres from the forest, authorities said.

Meanwhile, local people have expressed concerns about rampant extraction of sand, stone and gravel that could lead to the destruction of Chure region.

Meanwhile, authorities said there is no exact data regarding the amount and frequency of export of such construction materials to India.