The extraction of materials from rivers and hills is not a new phenomenon. The sand, pebbles and felled trees are all used in the construction trade. But what is disturbing is the unchecked systemic destruction of the areas that are a source of such natural resources. The words sustainability and natural resources seem incoherent for people in Nepal, particularly the contractors who have been given free rein to do as they please. Despite numerous reports of illegal activities concerning the extraction of riverbed materials and unchecked excavations, nothing seems to stem such activities.

In a particular incident reported in the Post, excavation at the Lalkhandehi River has gone unchecked, which is a significant cause for concern. The damage done may not be evident now, but the monsoon is bound to wreak havoc, causing erosion of banks and widespread inundation of the area; and in some cases, even causing nearby roads to cave in. Rivers change course over a while due to unchecked excavation, and deepening the river bed has damaging consequences for the vegetative cover of the aquatic environment and the surrounding area. It is the locals that are affected the most by such activities. Yet, the local administration, contrary to reports by a local monitoring team, flatly denies that any illegal activities are taking place.

The contractors in this particular instance were permitted to dig no deeper than 5 feet. However, they openly flouted the directives issued by the local administration and seem to have dug up to 25 feet. There are provisions to check mining activities; but clearly, the contractors do not seem to be losing sleep over their evil acts. There have been instances of contractors in government projects acting unethically to extract more than that assigned, completely sidestepping the law.

In Nepal, handling government contracts isn’t about complying with ethical standards and setting a good precedent. Instead, it is about trying to get away with as much as possible by defying every rule in the rulebook. After all, who is to question your activities if the government approves the contract? It is a nation submerged in cronyism where only the influential are accorded contracts in opaque settings and given a free hand to plunder at the expense of the ecology. It is often the case of putting profits before environmental concerns.

Climate change has become a hot potato globally. But the authorities in Nepal unabashedly push for ways to cause further damage to the environment. Whether constructing an airport in Nijgadh by felling millions of trees or exploiting the Chure rivers and hills on the pretence of exporting pebbles and sand, the authorities’ actions have proved that the mantle of protecting our environment has to be taken up through the combined effort of the populace. It cannot solely be the prerogative of the administration or a particular department.