Jaleshwar, Dec. 24: The political leaders of Bardibas Municipality have united to oppose the extraction of construction materials from Ratu Khola. 

After the Bardibas Municipality awarded a contract to excavate various sections of the Ratu River flowing within the city area, the political parties protested.

The representatives of various political parties on Friday united against the mining of Ratu River, urging the municipality to halt the excavation work immediately.

Raju Khadka of CPN (Maoist Centre), Chiranjeebi Hamal of Nepali Congress, Shankar Mahato of CPN-UML, Suresh Raut of CPN (Unified Socialist), Chet Kumar Thapa of LOSPA Nepal, Bimlesh Mahato of Janamat Party, Parshuram Basnet of Rastriya Swatantra Party, and Yanikhar Gautam of Rastriya Prajatantra Party published a joint statement against the mining in the Ratu River.

In the joint statement, the political parties have warned that if the excavation is not stopped immediately, they will initiate a strike against the municipality.

Bardibas Municipality has allowed the extraction of riverine materials from the Ratu River. 

The municipality on August 10, 2023, issued a public notice for tender for fiscal year 2023/24 regarding the Ratu River project. 

Bardibas Municipality has issued a public notice calling for e-bidding for the excavation of materials from the riverbed of Ratu River by paying Rs. 14,138,635 for 80150.99 cubic meters in the Kisan Nagar section. 

Similarly, the municipality has called for the excavation of 80,115.45 cubic (ghana) meter riverbed at Jurey tole section by paying Rs. 14,132,366, Rs. 16,900,722 for the excavation of 67,288.69 cubic meter at Phulbari tole section and Rs. 11,841,722 for the excavation of 67,127.46 cubic meter at Pathlaiya section of Ratu River. 

The municipality granted the tender to Dev Bishnu Construction and Suppliers Pvt. Ltd for the excavation of reverbed materials of Kisan Nagar section, Jure tole and Phulbari tole. 

The tender amounted to Rs. 18.2 million for the Kisan Nagar section, Rs. 18 million for the Jure tole section, and Rs. 15.1 million for the Phulbari tole section.

Similarly, the municipality granted the tender to Rajesh and Brothers Construction and Suppliers for the excavation of the Pathlaiya River section at the cost of Rs. 13 million.  

Political leaders of the municipality have initiated protests following the commencement of excavation work by the construction companies. 

Due to the Ratu River’s significance as the primary river in the Mahotari district, directly impacting the Chure, Bhawar, and Terai regions within its river system, a demand has been raised to immediately halt the excavation work to protect the region. 

This request has been forwarded to the relevant authorities and bodies.

The statement mentioned that the Ratu River has a special relationship with human civilization as well as with the people of the Mahottari and Dhanusha districts.

Additionally, they emphasized to the relevant authorities that the government has allocated a significant budget, amounting to billions, for Chure conservation and the management of the Ratu River system and its watershed.

In the past, the various local levels under this river system including Bardiwas Municipality have been exploiting the Ratu River by granting contracts to crusher companies to excavate materials from riverbeds. Similarly, crusher mafias have also been accused of exploiting the river, treating it merely as a source of earning. 

The political parties have concluded that due to haphazard excavation, the Ratu River faces a depletion of water during the winter season.

As a result of unorganized and non-scientific river mining practices, the water source started drying up. 

This situation has resulted in arable lands facing desertification and locals facing severe water and food crises, the statement added. 

The unnatural deepening of the river caused by excavation has led to the flooding and erosion of thousands of bighas of arable land during the rainy season. 

Similarly, the political parties argued that environmental issues stemming from crusher companies operating below the set standards within the municipality are escalating.

Stating that preserving the Chure as a water reservoir is imperative since it plays a significant role in sustaining life, political parties urged Bardibas Municipality to promptly stop the haphazard excavation in Ratu River, which is causing destruction. 

The contract awarded in the fiscal year 2020/21 has faced controversy over allegations of illegal mining. As a result, the case is currently pending in Janakpur High Court.

As per the environmental impact assessment conducted in 2021, an agreement was reached to extract 121,500 cubic meters of riverbed material from four sections of the Ratu River: Kisannagar, Pathalaiya, Jure tole, and Phulbari tole.

However, based on the report from the survey sub-committee, the crusher companies, including Panchadhuramai Suppliers, Shivam Construction Pvt. ltd and Dibyanshu Builder Pvt. Ltd, entrusted with the excavation has reportedly extracted seven times more material than what was mentioned in the contract. 

Panchadhuramai Suppliers, which excavated riverbed materials beyond the contracted amount, is left to pay more than Rs. 27.5 million in revenues from the Kishannagar section and Rs. 16.1 million from the Jure tole section.

Likewise, Shivam Construction and Dibyanshu Builders are left to pay revenue of Rs. 27.5 million and 47.8 million respectively. 

On June 8, a complaint was lodged in the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority ( CIAA) against the excavation activities carried out ignoring Stone, Gravel, Sand Excavation, Sale and Management Act, 2077.

At a time when the case is pending in Janakpur High Court, the legitimacy of the contract awarded by the municipality has been questioned.