News Summary
Prepared after editorial review.
- Locals in Trinetra Community Forest area of Golbazar, Siraha, have expressed unrest due to unpermitted sand and gravel excavation and storage activities.
- Although Golbazar Municipality contracted Tirupati Construction for extraction from Gagan River, the company is accused of illegal excavation within the community forest.
- Bechan Sharma, Forest Officer at Lahan Division Forest Office, has affirmed that unauthorized storage inside forest areas will be dealt with legally.
May 28, Siraha – Residents of Trinetra Community Forest in Ward No. 1, Golbazar Municipality, Siraha, are agitated over unauthorized sand and gravel excavation and storage within the community forest area. Despite the lack of approval from the Forest User Committee, the contractor has stockpiled gravel within the forest, prompting locals to intervene and halt the removal of materials.
According to local sources, Golbazar Municipality awarded a contract worth approximately NPR 7.1 million to Tirupati Construction, based in Dhangadhimai Municipality, to extract sand and gravel from the Gagan River flowing through Wards 1 and 2. While the company had permission to extract from the river itself, it reportedly engaged in illegal extraction and unauthorized storage inside the community forest area.
Local resident Mahendra Purweka stated that despite repeated requests by the Forest User Committee to avoid storing materials in the forest, the contractor ignored these appeals. “After several warnings from the committee members were disregarded, the villagers had to step in to stop the activities,” he said.
Another local, Sajan Purweka, claimed that the sand and gravel had been stockpiled in large quantities without informing the Forest Committee. After local opposition, tractors and trucks were hurriedly removed from the site, he added.
Locals have highlighted the destruction of shrubs and animal habitats due to unregulated extraction. “Initially, we thought the impact would be minor, but the excavation has devastated the forest and large amounts of sand and gravel have been piled up, covering the area,” they stated.
The Lahan Division Forest Office clarified that storage of any materials inside forest areas without authorization is prohibited. Forest Officer Bechan Sharma noted that since the Community Forest Committee’s permission was also absent, information is being gathered and appropriate legal action will be taken if necessary.
However, locals have criticized the Forest Office and related authorities for showing no active response throughout Monday while sand and gravel continued moving in and out of the storage area. They suspect collusion as elected representatives remained silent despite ongoing illegal excavation. Locals accuse officials and representatives of neglect despite repeated reports.
Residents report illegal sand and gravel extraction in various areas including Dhangadhimai, Karjanha, Golbazar, and Naraha of Siraha. Although some municipalities have granted permits, locals allege that extraction is often conducted in violation of standards. Businesspeople who inform authorities repeatedly say they are ignored.
