Mustang, June 26: The protracted dispute who to raise utility tax from the excavation, sale and transportation of river-based natural materials of the Kaligandaki River in Mustang has come to an end.
The Conservation Management Committee (CMC) under the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) has initiated collecting utility tax for the excavation of the river-based natural resources –sand, gravel and stone.
Chief of ACAP Jomsom office, Rajesh Gupta informed that the head office recommends for river-based resource excavation adhering minimum standards of the Kaligandaki River natural resource based for internal purpose.
Earlier, the Supreme Court (SC) acting on a writ registered in July 2021 had ordered to ban excavation of Kaligandaki based resources. The apex court issued order to prohibit obstruction of the river flow, pollution and excavation of stone, sand and gravel.
On 4 November 2024, the SC had scrapped the writ with directive order. In the meantime, Kaski district court had revoked the writ petition registered by CMC of Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality-8 and 9 in Kaski on 15 December 2020. It may be noted that the interim order was issued to follow the existing federal laws while excavating river-based materials in ACAP region.
In lack of proper excavation of the natural river-based resources in Mustang, the disastrous incidents are annually increasing in the Kaligandaki river areas. There is a high risk of land erosion in 13 rural municipalities of Mustang due to rising level of the Kaligandaki river of late.
