The case against illegal limestone quarrying in Budhagaon area of ​​Triveni Rural Municipality of Rolpa has been overshadowed due to the activities of political party leaders. Due to the accusations and counter-accusations between the representatives of Maoist, Congress and UML, the investigation of the issue of illegal mining has been diverted to a different direction.

The case took a different turn after the President and Vice President of Triveni Rural Municipality, who have been raising their voice against the illegal quarrying of limestone for years without taking permission and even filed a case in the Supreme Court, were accused of demanding money from the owner of the cement industry.

Speaking in the Lumbini Provincial Assembly in the third week of last January, Maoist MP and former minister Dipendra Kumar Pun accused the chairman and vice-chairman of Ghorahi Cement Industry owner Purushottamlal (PL) of 'bargaining' to ask for 20 million money from Sanghai. He said, "There is information that the president and vice president pressured PL Sanghai, the owner of Ghorahi Cement Industry, to collect 20 million dollars for election expenses in a hotel in Kathmandu. The owner of the industry, Sanghai himself, has said that.'

Ghorahi Cement Industry in Ghorahi of Chundhunga Dang in Triveni Rural Municipality-3 and 4 of Rolpa has been taking it. Rolpa Chundhunga Pvt Ltd and Shivswaroop Mineral Industry carry large quantities of limestone daily. Shanghai is the owner of Ghorahi Cement Industry. The president and vice president released a statement in response to the accusation. In the same way, a statement was issued from local to higher levels of UML. But this issue is becoming more serious after the owner of Ghorahi Cement Industry, Sanghai, asked for money from him.

After the incident, UML and Congress workers have demanded that the party should also investigate the rural village president and vice president. Even the workers of his own party have demanded that MP Pun, who complained in the provincial assembly about the limestone mining issue, should clarify more.

UML district president Amrit Bahadur Budhamgar said that the bitterness between people's representatives has taken a different form on issues related to legal matters. He said that it is not good to try to push the issue by politicizing it. Congress District Secretary Sher Bahadur Thapa, not wanting to solve the issue at the local level, suggested that more evidence should be given about the matter spoken by MP Pun in the Provincial Assembly.

Victims are more victims

Limestone victims have been complaining to the local government, leaders and people's representatives for years to solve their problems. They have protested for the third time from voicing their grievances through a press conference. Last time, the mining victims were happy to get justice after getting the support of political party officials. But after the subject took a different turn, the victim suffered more. Currently, the Sangharsh Committee has also suspended the movement.

A few months ago, former finance minister Barshman Pun also discussed with the locals, promising to solve the problems of the locals. Locals said that the re-assurance has now stalled. Struggle Committee Coordinator Omraj Ghartimagar said that local issues have been overshadowed by political entanglements.

He said, "It happened from the representative of the people to change the matter". Our issues and demands have been overshadowed after the provincial parliamentarians went forward to make serious accusations against the rural village president and vice president. Let the government and the party also investigate this matter.'

Around 41 families of wards 3 and 4 of Triveni, the area where the limestone was quarried, have been suffering since the beginning. Neither the quarrying has been stopped, nor has the problem been resolved by participating in consensus and negotiations .

Due to political activities and influence, even the protest staged by the locals against the mining operator is not being heard . Dozens of villages are at risk due to illegal mining. Locals are agitating with demands such as the need to raise the settlement, regular stone cutting and attention to the health of the local people. However, Rolpa Chundhunga Pvt Ltd and Shivswaroop Mineral Industry have been mining since the beginning.

At the request of the rural municipality, the representatives of the mining and geological department conducted a study in 2078. Since then, there has been no study. From the preliminary study up to 2078, it is concluded that a large amount of revenue has yet to be collected from illegal mining. The agreement to buy local land, give compensation and even provide employment is yet to be followed. Illegal limestone quarrying by Rolpa Limestone and Shivswaroop Mineral Industry affecting villages and forests in Triveni Rural Municipality-3 and 4 of Rolpa has not been stopped .

The company has to pay more than 50 million for the municipality and about 700 million to the central revenue for quarrying limestone. According to the on-site study conducted by the Department of Mines and Geology, about 9 million tons of limestone have been illegally mined in the report.