Illegal sand and gravel mining has increased the risk to the Jawanadi River, which flows through Patarasi Rural Municipality. This river, which used to flow in a uniform shape, is now flowing in a choppy manner.

Man Bahadur Bohora of Patarasi Rural Municipality-5 said that the risk is increasing due to the lack of attention from the regulatory body and the local government. He said, ‘As soon as the flow of the river decreases, it looks like a muddy stream instead of a river. As soon as the flow of water increases, mud starts flowing like a flood.’

The distance of about one and a half kilometers from Lamri village to Lorpa in Patarasi 5 was previously green. The riverbed was like a grassland. Where animals used to graze. ‘But now it is difficult to say whether it is a river or a stream,’ he said, ‘The appearance of the river has changed due to the rapid extraction of gravel for development projects.’

Without the supervision of the regulatory body, contractors and individuals have arbitrarily extracted gravel from the river, and settlements in the riverbank area are even at risk.

Local Bishnu Bahadur Budha said, ‘On the one hand, natural beauty is being lost due to illegal mining, while on the other hand, the risks of natural disasters such as floods, landslides, and soil erosion have also increased.’ Meanwhile, the local government has also lost crores of rupees in internal revenue due to the increased exploitation of natural resources, which are considered the main source of income.

Sand and gravel cannot be extracted indiscriminately without an environmental impact assessment. Riverine materials have been being extracted for years using dozers without permission, changing the course and shape of the river.

This has not only affected the riverbank area, but also put the lives of aquatic animals in danger. Until a few years ago, some locals used to make a living by fishing. But now they have stopped catching fish in the river.