News Summary
Reviewed.
- In Baglung, the Kaligandaki River’s course has been altered to extract stone and sand in violation of standards.
- Although the municipality granted contracts for riverbed material extraction, excavation occurred over 250 meters long and eight meters deep.
- The exploitation of the river has caused soil erosion, floods, landslides, and damage to riverside settlements, prompting preparations for legal action.
March 6 (Chaitra 23), Galkot (Baglung) – The course of the Kaligandaki River has been altered for resource extraction.
Despite extraction usually occurring at midnight during the rainy season, it has been discovered that even in winter, the river’s course in Baglung has been diverted to extract stone and sand contrary to regulations.
In Kalakhola Bagar area, Ward No. 13 of Baglung Municipality, the river has been diverted toward Parbat district to facilitate extraction of riverbed materials.
Although the municipality had contracted the extraction at Kalakhola Bagar, Bhatekhola, and Galuwa riverbanks, the activities have disrupted the river’s natural structure and caused exploitation beyond permissible limits.
In Galuwa (Baglung-10) and Kalakhola Bagar (Baglung-13), despite low water flow in winter, the river’s flow has been reversed for continued extraction.
While the municipality authorized riverbed material extraction in winter, concerned parties report it has been conducted in violation of standards. The exploitation has triggered soil erosion, floods, landslides, and damage to settlements along the riverbanks in both Baglung and Parbat regions.
Monitoring confirmed that in Kalakhola Bagar, the river was redirected toward Parbat for extracting materials from an area exceeding 250 meters in length, more than 50 meters in width, and over seven meters in depth, using heavy machinery. District Coordination Committee Chief Amar Bahadur Thapa informed that action will be taken based on these findings.
Chief Thapa stated, “Only 30 percent of the extraction should employ manual labor, but 100 percent machinery has been used, causing significant alteration to the river’s structure.”
“Stopping the exploitation requires collective effort. The municipality has collected revenue, but the extraction is not compliant with standards. The technical report clearly specifies the unauthorized extraction and removal of river materials,” he added.
“If extraction exceeds the permission granted by the municipality, legal measures will follow. Since exploitation has surpassed the contractual limits, preparations for action are underway.”
The Kaligandaki River’s exploitation is currently under close monitoring amid widespread pressure. Extraction has been particularly active around Kalakhola and Galuwa, prompting increased vigilance.
Following an environmental impact assessment, Baglung Municipality had authorized extraction to a depth of up to two meters, but investigations revealed materials being removed up to eight meters deep. Rastriya Samachar Samiti
