The District Coordination Committee, Mahottari has begun shutting down the sand and stone quarries running illegally in the district.
As of Saturday evening, 12 such crusher industries have been shut down in and around the Bardibas, Gaushala, Bhangaha and Aurahi town areas. The crusher industries have posed a risk to embankments and afforestation initiatives carried out by the government. As a result they are being shut down, the committee spokesperson Sudip Kumar Jha.
As per the regulation, crusher operators are required to take permission from the local level and the DCC but many were found running without the license. As per official records, only six crusher industries are operating after being formally registered. But more than 50 of them have been found to be operated.
Uncontrolled extraction of sand and stones from the rivers in the district has led to drying up of the water sources, wetlands and induced deforestation, as well as inundation. As a result, the locals and environmental campaigners raised a voice, prompting the DCC to come into action.
