Surkhet, Dec. 29: Crusher industries in Surkhet have been in operation without permission despite repeated requests from the municipalities to shut them down. 

Barahatal Rural Municipality in Surkhet informed that four crusher industries were operating illegally between Thapadera to Dokpa. They include Himal Sand Processing Industry, Deutimata Sand Processing Industry, Ramjanaki Sand Processing Industry and Kesi Sand Processing Industry. 

Bhim Bahadur Bhandari, chairman of the Barahatal Rural Municipality, said that the illegally operating industries posed a risk to settlements along the banks of the Bheri River with around 400 houses in the areas like Thapadera, Pagma, Ranighat and Dopka. 

Despite multiple inspections by the officials of the District Administration and District Coordination Committee, the rural municipality stated that no legal action had been taken against the illegal crusher industries. Chairman Bhandari said that the rural municipality could not remove crusher industries on its own due to a lack of human resources although it had the authority to do so. 

He said that though excavation of river goods had been prohibited, and the industries were allowed to carry only the excavated construction materials, the industries were resorting to illegal extractions at night. 

Similarly, three crusher industries are operating illegally in Lekbeshi Municipality Ward No. 1, 8 and 9 in eastern Surkhet. Mayor Umesh Kumar Paudel said such industries continued to operate openly due to the lack of authorities taking action. 

Bheri Sand Processing Industry is being operated in Ward No.1, Pancha Koshi Sand Processing Industry in Ward No. 8 and Dueti Sand Processing Industry in Ward No. 9. Mayor Paudel said that although the administration had been informed about this several times, no legal action had been taken except for inspections. 

Gangaram Sunar, chief of Surkhet District Coordination Committee, said that although they had instructed crusher industries to shut down, they had been operating ignoring the notice. He said that 11 crusher industries were currently operating without permission in Surkhet.  Since the committee did not have right to take action it had only been instructing the industries. 

Meanwhile, District Administration Office Surkhet informed that it would monitor industries based on river products including their extraction, collection and sale-distribution, and would take action if any activities were found happening against the established standards.