MP Ashika Tamang Raises Concern Over Illegal Sand and Gravel Smuggling

Kathmandu. Ruling party Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) MP Ashika Tamang has drawn the government's attention to the illegal smuggling of gravel and sand from rivers and streams. Speaking in the House of Representatives meeting on Monday, she stated that gravel and sand are being excavated and sold without paying taxes to the state in Dhading and across the country. She mentioned that the existing laws are inadequate and the existing laws are not being effectively implemented. She demanded that the government amend the laws immediately by revising the current criteria. She also recalled that it is prohibited to extract gravel and sand from rivers according to laws and rules during the monsoon months. Speaking in parliament, MP Tamang said, 'It is prohibited to extract gravel and sand from rivers according to laws and rules during the monsoon months. But smugglers smuggle sand worth lakhs and crores in a single night without paying a single rupee in tax to the state.' She stated that this problem is complex in most rivers in Nepal, including her district Dhading. She said that the more complex issue lies in the country's laws and procedures. Clarifying her statement, she added, 'My intention is not at all that stones, gravel, and sand should not be extracted. But the law should not be an obstacle to its proper management.' She seriously drew the attention of the Government of Nepal to amend the necessary laws to operate according to the current system. She also informed that the government is losing crores in revenue due to such illegal trade of riverine products.