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Workers elated as crushers resume ops
Crusher industry workers in Dhading are elated after the plants came back into operation from last week.Harihar Singh Rathore
Crusher industry workers in Dhading are elated after the plants came back into operation from last week.
The industries had remained closed since July 16 following a verbal order from the local administration.
Labours, mechanics, tripper drivers and operators of 27 crusher plants assembled together to observe the Vishokarma festival on Saturday.
“The workers were hit hard by the closure of the crusher factories just ahead of the Dashain festival,” said Raju Aryal, a tripper driver. “Around 18,000 workers dependent on the industry are elated with the operators’ unilateral decision to resume the factories.”
The local administration had given a verbal order to stop the crusher factories, stating the government had not given a written order or direction to renew their operating licences.
Although the crusher operators have been pressuring government authorities at district and national levels, the government is yet adopt a concrete view on the operation of the industry.
Crusher operators from 24 districts had met Industry Minister Nabindra Raj
Joshi on Sunday, requesting him to give approval for restarting their plants. “During the meeting, the minister said the government would give the approval only after a taskforce formed to study the matter submits its report,” said Ram Prasad Bidari, president of District Crusher Operator’s Association. “However, we cannot wait for that long as the festival season has begun.”
The operators said
banning crusher plants at a time when there is high demand for sand and aggregates for reconstruction purposes does not makes sense.
Around 27 crusher factories of the district have 700
trippers and 900 excavators and dozers. These factories supply around 600 trippers
of sand and aggregates to
various sales depots
in Kathmandu.
“Altogether, there are around 18,000 labourers dependent on the industry and they had remained unemployed after the factories were closed,” said Purushottam Regmi, general secretary of Nepal Crusher Operator’s Association.
“If the local administration intervenes to close the factories during the festive season, we will line up 1,600 trippers and excavators on the Prithvi Highway and block it.”
Chief District Officer Bishwo Prakash Subedi, however, said it is illegal to operate the factories until the government gives approval.