MAKAWANPUR, Dec 24: Most of the crusher and sand processing plants being operated in Makawanpur district in Bagmati Province have been found operating against the stipulated criteria and standards.
According to the District Administration Office, most of such plants have breached the government-set standards.
There are 32 crusher plants and 70 sand processing units in the district. Though they are found registered in one or the other government agency, they have not met the present criteria and standards, shared Chief District Officer Govinda Rijal.
Crusher plants into black marketeering of sand and stones
Rijal further said that the district administration would impose a ban on the operation of crusher and sand processing plants which are found running against the set standards and objectives.
It has been found that 11 crusher plants and 14 sand processing units have not renewed their registration within the time. Likewise, eight crusher plants and 18 sand processing units have not paid the tax for fiscal year 2076/77 on time.
No crusher plant is found to meet the criteria and standards as per the ‘River-based Products Extraction and Consumption Work Procedure’ endorsed by the Bagmati Province government on 16 October 2018.
The procedure has stated that the crusher and sand processing plants should be run at a distance of over 300 meters from the river banks; 100 meters away from the high tension line; 300 meters away from the highway and a kilometer away from the educational institutions, health facilities, religious institutions and security posts.
Likewise, according to the work procedure, such industrial units should be run at least two-km away from national parks and wildlife reserves as well as dense human settlements, and a kilometer away from the forest area and 500 meters away from cemented bridges.
