The entrepreneurs have urged the government to take a decision in this regard only after conducting a proper study. [break]
The government took its decision after the parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Means directed the government earlier this month to halt the export of rocks and sand to India.
"The government needs to have an in-depth study done by an expert team on the possible repercussions of such a decision," Krishna Prasad Sharma, coordinator of the Federation of Nepal Crusher Entrepreneurs, said at a press meet on Friday.
He also argued that such a decision would not only put the multi-billion rupee investment by crusher operators at risk but also create a serious problem for the entire national economy.
Sharma said the government can take action against particular operators if they are found causing an adverse impact on natural resources. "But imposing a blanket ban on the entire sector, terming it an illegal trade, is unjustified," he said.
Crusher operators export about 500,000 truckloads a year (over 1,000 truckloads every day) of rocks, boulders and sand extracted from rivers spread across the Tarai belt.
The parliamentary committee directed the government to ban the export, saying it had a serious environmental and ecological impact, primarily on Nepal´s rivers, forests and the Chure hill range.
The committee issued the directive after parliamentarians in the committee raised serious concern that export of sand, rocks and boulders on such a massive scale was affecting Nepal´s highways, bridges, ecology and environment.
Related story
Operation of crusher plant in the name of fertiliser factory
