A team from the Forest Office, which was on patrol, took them into custody while they were using a vacuum loader to excavate riverine materials in the Adheri River in Chure Rural Municipality-4.
What you should know
A team from the Forest Office has arrested five people along with their vehicles while they were illegally excavating stones, gravel, and soil in the foothills of the Chure Mountains in Kailali.
The forest office team that went on patrol to excavate riverine materials using a vacuum loader in the Adheri River in Chure Rural Municipality-4 took them under control.
Those arrested are Ramesh Chaudhary, a 28-year-old tractor driver from Banbeda, Gauriganga Municipality-6, Kanaiya Rana, a 28-year-old tipper driver from Asaina, Shuklaphanta Municipality-4, Kanchanpur, Birjan Tharu, a 25-year-old tipper driver from Damauli, Basgadhi Municipality-6, Bardiya, Krishna Rana, a tipper driver from Asaina, Shuklaphanta-4, and Shiva Charan Chaudhary, a 27-year-old vacuum loader driver from Beli, Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City-7.
A vacuum loader, three tippers and a tractor used in illegal excavation have also been seized. All five arrested are in the custody of the Division Forest Office, Kailali.
Chief Divisional Forest Officer of Divisional Forest Office Kailali Ramvichari Thakur said that they were arrested while patrolling based on information about illegal mining and timber smuggling in the Chure area. He said that mining and transporting riverine products from areas where environmental testing has not been carried out is prohibited.
Stating that according to the Forest Act, there is a provision for imprisonment, fine or both for illegal mining, Thakur informed that action will be taken as per the law. ‘Along with illegal mining, deforestation and smuggling have been found in that area,’ said Forest Officer Thakur. ‘A few days ago, 12 Khayar trees were found cut down from the same area, and recently a Sal tree was also found cut down and taken away.’
The Forest Office has concluded that illegal mining in the Chure area, which is a sensitive geographical area connecting the Mahabharata range and the Terai, is increasing environmental risks. The Forest Office has warned that strict action will be taken against those involved in such activities.
