Our Representative Our Right

There are three different cement industries operating in Dang. Ghorahi Cement Industry is located in Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City Wards 3 and 4, Samrat Cement in Lamahi Municipality Ward 8, and Sona Cement Industry is producing in Dudhara of Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City Ward 18. These industries extract limestone from various areas of Banglachuli Rural Municipality in Dang. Ghorahi Cement extracts limestone from the Tapa area of Banglachuli Rural Municipality Wards 3 and 4, Sona Cement from the Rapdhara Syuja area of Banglachuli Wards 1 and 2, Samrat Cement from the Thara area of Banglachuli Ward 3, and Shubhashree Agni Cement from the Timile area of Banglachuli Ward 6 in Pyuthan. While Samrat, Sona, and Agni Cement have been extracting limestone for four to five years, Ghorahi Cement has been doing so for more than 12 years. The extraction by these four cement industries has led to the degradation of forest areas, drying up of water sources, increased risk of floods and landslides, and the destruction of the blacktopped Ghorahi-Banglachuli road due to the hundreds of tippers transporting limestone. The dust and smoke from the tippers have turned the schools and houses along the road dusty, and the vegetables grown in the fields are now covered with dust, making them unfit for consumption. While the rights to education, health, housing, and food of the locals are being violated in the name of development, a summary of a conversation between Bhaktabahadur Jisi, Vice President and Coordinator of the Judicial Committee of Banglachuli Rural Municipality, and INSEC Dang District Representative Jaynarayan Pun regarding the role of the local government is presented here.

How is the local government addressing the extraction of limestone?

There should be specific standards and procedures for limestone extraction. However, the local government has no information on this matter. The extractors have also not informed the local government and the people here, and we have not investigated the extraction methods and processes. After 15 years of extraction, the Mining Department has recently asked for weight scales to be installed. Over these years, the roads have been damaged by overloading tippers, and dust and smoke have had environmental impacts. There is no record of this. Industries should operate, but should we not also consider the damage to roads and the dust affecting local people, schools, and students? Community forest areas are being registered as mines, leading to the destruction of entire hills and the cutting down of trees, which has caused the water sources in the area to dry up. Fields with crops have been buried by landslides. The affected people have been pleading with the local government, but there has been no action on this issue. Even though there is awareness of the impacts, the local government seems oblivious to the adherence to standards.

Is the local government unable to speak out against the extraction, claiming it is not in the public interest?

 

It is not that we cannot speak; we have spoken. But who will ensure compliance with these operational guidelines? Whose responsibility is it? Who will address the concerns we have monitored? What is the role of the local government? The excavators seek recourse from the federal government, and both the federal and provincial governments do not turn their attention here. This leaves the local government unaware, which is what I am trying to convey. Additionally, if industrial operators aim to run their industries for the long term, they must consider making the industry community-friendly. We have repeatedly raised this issue. Since the permission for industry and limestone quarrying, and all related monitoring, is granted by the federal government, the industries do not heed the local government. The unregulated excavation has caused significant environmental impacts. It has come to light that for 15 years, quarry operations were permitted without installing weight scales. Now, only recently, the mining department has mandated the installation of weight scales. We have doubts. Are crushers being operated right within the excavation sites, and whether this is being done with proper authorization? This kind of coercive operation of quarries has led to numerous complications. The local government’s efforts to resolve these issues are ongoing.

The roads are filled with tippers. There are schools right beside the roads. How have you managed to prevent the impact there?

The efforts of the local government have had some effect, but not enough has been done to mitigate the impact. Mahendra Secondary School Syuja, Sudha Secondary School Jhelaneta, Mahendra Secondary School Sriwari, and Ambika Secondary School Harnok are schools affected by quarrying and transportation. Although Ambika Secondary School Harnok falls within the Ghorahi sub-metropolitan area, it is also an affected school. Since the limestone quarrying in the Tapa area started earlier, the road from Tapa Chowk to the quarry area has been paved, specifically targeting Mahendra Secondary School Sriwari and its students. Speed breakers have been installed to prevent accidents. Additionally, considering the health and safety of all schools and students, the rural municipality has implemented a time card system for tippers transporting limestone. Tippers are prohibited from operating between 9 AM to 11 AM and 3 PM to 5 PM daily to ensure that students can go to and from school safely. However, this time card system has caused issues with tippers bunching up and speeding at other times, but it has created a safer environment for the general public to walk during the morning and evening. Furthermore, during the dry season, the industry is responsible for sprinkling water on the roads to prevent dust, although this measure is insufficient.

 

Even if the standards are not fully met, couldn’t efforts be made to conduct regular health check-ups and provide treatment for those affected?

We have not requested the industry to address this issue. However, when the industry itself seeks permission, it should commit to regular health check-ups and treatment. Industry operators should also recognize that their activities are affecting the health of students and local residents. They have committed to undertaking public welfare activities, but this has not materialized. Special attention must be given to those directly affected. We are also taking steps in this regard. Additionally, the right to housing for the affected individuals is at risk. Quarrying is taking place just 500 meters above, and there are dozens of houses and settlements below, posing a threat from falling rocks. Fortunately, there has not been a major accident so far, but there is a risk of floods and landslides destroying the settlements. This year, some farmers’ rice fields were buried by mud and landslides. They have submitted compensation requests to the judicial committee. Therefore, we are making efforts to compensate and manage the highly affected and affected populations. The industry, however, is not paying attention to this matter.

What could be the role of local government in solving the problems of mining-affected communities?

The representatives and political parties are being blamed by the people due to mining activities. We have problems. The industry has already bought off the representatives and parties. The people have started to believe that no one listens to us. The victims come to us with their problems, but the mining operators do not listen to the local government. When they don’t listen to the government, the people get the impression that they have been bought off. Therefore, the representatives, political parties, and the people here need to be oriented on the standards, permissions, agreements, regulatory bodies, and monitoring rights related to mining operations. We expect the orientation to help understand which standards to follow, who is responsible for warnings, and what is provided in the rules and laws to avoid unnecessary opposition. We want the industry to follow the standards. For that, we are continuously coordinating with the operators. Our stance is that the industry should operate and the livelihoods of the people here should be facilitated. The industry should do its part, and the local government will support it. Otherwise, it is time to reconsider. We also want national-level industries to operate and bring revenue to the state. But the local government will not remain silent if the situation leads to the displacement of villagers for the ease of building cemented houses. We will be forced to reconsider the issues related to industry and mining. We have waited for the industry to operate according to the standards. Now the patience is running out. We are at the point where the village council may decide to close the mines in this area. We are prepared to pay any price for the people, whether it requires explanations, going to court, or fighting with the federal and provincial governments over jurisdiction.