Siraha, September 13
A contractor awarded a contract to extract riverbed materials from the Gagane Khola in Golbazar Municipality, Siraha, has reportedly carried out excavation several days before the permitted date.
Tirupati Construction secured the contract to extract riverbed materials from the stream for Rs 14.125 million. However, according to the municipality, the company is permitted to begin excavation only from September 17.
Despite this, excavation was reportedly carried out at the site a few days ago.
Golbazar Municipality Mayor Shyam Shrestha said he had asked officials to look into the matter.
“If permission has been granted from September 17, excavation cannot be carried out before then,” Shrestha said. “We had sent municipal police to inspect the river, but they did not find any vehicles there.”
He said the company had also been given permission to extract materials required for the construction of a road.
“The company has permission to extract materials needed for a road project here. I need to look into the other details as well,” Shrestha said.
Municipality Revenue Section Chief Rambriksh Mahato said excavation before the effective date of the agreement would be illegal.
Meanwhile, Rajendra Yadav of Tirupati Construction acknowledged that excavation had taken place for one day.
“I excavated for only one day. I have not excavated since then. Others may have done it; I don’t know,” Yadav said.
The municipality has said it is looking into whether any excavation took place in violation of the contract conditions.
