Four crusher industries operating without meeting legal standards have been fined and shut down by the Cottage and Small Industry Office, Palpa.

Following instructions from the federal government, a joint monitoring team led by the office, along with the District Administration Office, Palpa, security agencies, and concerned stakeholders, inspected crusher sites across Tansen Municipality, Rampur Municipality, Rambha Rural Municipality, Purbakhola Rural Municipality, and the Mathagadhi area.

After the field inspection, four crusher industries were fined and ordered to close, said office chief Keshav Sunar.

Rameshwari Construction Pvt. Ltd., based in Chhatrakot Rural Municipality-4 of Gulmi, which was operating a crusher at Tansen Municipality-14, Arghali, was fined Rs 25,000 and shut down. Locals alleged that the company delayed a bridge construction project while operating the crusher to supply gravel and sand elsewhere.

Similarly, Mathagadhi Crusher Industry Pvt. Ltd., operated by local Kosh Bahadur Thapa at Mathagadhi Rural Municipality-4, Jhadewa, was fined Rs 25,000 and closed. The industry had reportedly been operating for years as local administration, police, and local levels turned a blind eye.

Divya Construction Pvt. Ltd., based in Kalanki, Kathmandu, which was operating a crusher at Rambha Rural Municipality-5, Tahoon, was also fined Rs 25,000 and shut down. The company had taken a road contract under the Road Infrastructure Office four years ago but was running the crusher without proper approval under the pretext of blacktopping works, which have not yet started.

Panth Construction Pvt. Ltd., operating at Purbakhola Rural Municipality-3, Ringneraha, was similarly fined Rs 25,000 and closed. The company had initiated a road blacktopping project in 2021, scheduled for completion in 2023, but has reportedly delayed the work while continuing crusher operations.

Sunar, who also leads the monitoring committee, said action was taken against the industries for operating without registration under the Provincial Industrial Promotion Act.

“We have taken maximum action as per our authority and ordered them to shut down,” he said. “They have been instructed not to resume operations until all legal procedures are completed.”

In addition, one crusher industry operating in the Rampur area was also shut down during the inspection after failing to present the required permits and approval documents.

Officials said most crusher industries in rural parts of the district have been operating for around four years under the guise of supplying construction materials for development projects. Many have been commercially producing and selling aggregates without proper licensing.

The monitoring team also found several industries operating in restricted areas without maintaining the mandatory distance from rivers, streams, forest zones, settlements, and sensitive locations.

The Jhadewa site in Mathagadhi was found close to a local stream, while the Arghali-based industry in Tansen was operating near the Kaligandaki Riverbank. Officials said weak regulatory monitoring and alleged political protection allowed such industries to operate for years without enforcement action.