National standards bar crusher industries from operating within 500 metres of highways, rivers, bridges, and require them to be at least two kilometres away from dense settlements.

Despite this, Sunny Crusher Industry has been operating illegally for over a decade, situated right beside the East-West Highway near the Gagan River bridge in ward 7 of Dhangadhimai Municipality. Dense human settlements surround the area.

As the crusher fails to meet legal criteria, it is not eligible for an electricity connection. However, the crusher operators are illegally using electricity being supplied in the name of the Chulachuli Gravel and Sand Processing Industry, registered at ward 9.

The Nepal Electricity Authority has also installed a 250kVA transformer, meant for large industries that meet standards, at the site. Locals say providing power, installing a high-capacity transformer and allowing cross-ward electricity use clearly point to collusion by state agencies.

Records at the Cottage and Small Industries Office in Lahan show Sunny Crusher is registered in the name of Jayaprakash Karak of Siraha, while Chulachuli Gravel and Sand Processing Industry is registered to Sitaram Neupane of Hetauda. Both industries have been operated for the past three years by Niraj Gautam of Dhanusha after being purchased from the original owners.

Gautam claimed he was unaware that the crusher was illegal or that electricity use was unlawful. “I did not know about these issues. It has been running like this for a long time,” he said. “If it is wrong, I will shut it down.”

Locals say the round-the-clock noise has disrupted daily life. Hareram Yadav filed a written complaint on November 9 with the ward office, Nepal Electricity Authority and the district administration. He said no action was taken and that he was instead threatened. “I approached the state as a responsible citizen,” he said. “But no official listened to me. I faced intimidation instead.”

Ward 7 chair Vijay Kumar Mahato said he had also written to the Siraha District Coordination Committee in November seeking action, following repeated complaints from local residents. “There has been no response so far,” he said.

After locals warned of protests, a Nepal Electricity Authority team from Lahan visited the crusher site on Thursday but returned without action. Office chief Awadhesh Kumar Gupta said electricity was briefly disconnected but restored following instructions from the Chief District Officer. “We were told not to cut the power for now,” he said.

Chief District Officer Surendra Paudel defended the decision, saying electricity cannot be cut based on complaints alone. “We will first look into all aspects. After that, the concerned agencies will take necessary action,” he said.