A Study on Mining Industry Pollution in Chapagaon, Nepal
DesharBashuDev 1
1. Introduction
Chapagaon is located in the outlying area of the south part of Kathmandu Valley. It is dense traditional settlement
area inhabited predominantly by the Newars. The area of Chapagaon VDC is 6.76 km2 with total population of 12789, out of
this 6516 male and 6273 female 2. It is taken one of the fastest growing VDCs in Kathmandu Valley. The development
prospect of proposed outer ring road of Kathmandu Valley and closeness to the city center of Kathmandu, this area has been
an attractive residential location for many migrants. In this VDC no proper considerations are made for settlement planning,mining, crushing and management of these. Survey has revealed that the miners are stronger in the sense that they may
physically defeat to any people if they raise the voice against of them to the concern agencies. It symbolizes that the miners
are on organized form for the security of their mines.

2. Demographic and Land Use Features of Chapagaon
Following table shows the demographic and land use features of Chapagaon area:

Table 1: Demographic and Land Use Features of Chapagaon
Male

6516

50.95%

Female6273

49.05%

Total

12789

100.00%Ward-wise Households and Population

Area Coverage

Land Use

Ward-wise Area Coverage

Land Use Coverage

Ward

Area in

Use inWard

No. of

No.

Households

Population

1

189

960

1

0.23

Settlement

0.12

2

211

1114

2

0.76

Bushes

1.22

3

258

1242

3

0.64

Cultivable Land

4.76

4

301

1565

4

0.5

Forest

0.99

5

252

1219

5

0.31

Useless Land

0.02

6

481

2580

6

1.77

Sandy Land

0.09

7

294

1442

7

1.44

Land Cover by Water

0.02

8

219

1073

8

0.96

9

326

1594

9

0.61

12789

Total

7.22

Total

7.22

Total

km2

in
km2

1Rissho University, Tokyo
2

Area

Central Bureau of Statistics, Preliminary Results of National Population Census, September 20111

Source:Central Bureau of Statistics, Preliminary Results of National Population Census, September 2011

3. Mining Industries in Chapagaon
Mining industries in Chapagaon are concentrated in Ward no. 6 which is adjoining Ward with Lele VDC. This ward
is taken as the best for crushing and stone mines because of lots of open spaces and availability of stones. Streams of
Chapagaon; Nakhu and Karmanasa are disturbing by stone mines and crushing industries, the volume of drinking water
has been reduced gradually because of the extraction of upper layer stones and soil of spring catchment area. In the past
years (2010/011) there were more than 30 stone and crushing industries but in 2012 gradually these reduced in Chapagaon
and shifted in other neighboring VDCs like Lele, Nallu, Bhardeu etc. (VDC Profile, 2066).
The following table shows the Crushing and Stone Mines currently existed in Chapagaon VDC with production
capacity of these:

Table 2: Crushing and Stone Mines Existed in Chapagaon VDC with their Capacity
Name of Crushing/Stone

Location

Industry

Total

Production Type

WorkerProduction
Capacity

BajrabarahiRodaDhungaUdyog

Ward No. 6

5

Gravel and stones

69 Mini Truck/day

BhanjyangDhungaKhani

Ward No.

6

Gravel and stones

71 Mini Truck/day

7

Gravel and stones

75 Mini Truck/day

6

Gravel and stones

72 Mini Truck/day

5

Gravel and stones

67 Mini Truck/day

7

Sand,

6
BhuwaneshworRodaDhungaUdyog

Ward No.
6

ChampapurDhungaRodaUdyog

Ward No.
6

Excel Stone Crusher

Ward
No.6

Lalit Concrete P.vt.Ltd.

Ward No.
6

Nepal RodaDhungaUdyog

Ward No.

gravel,and

73 Mini Truck/day

stones6

Gravel and stones

71 Mini Truck/day

6

Gravel and stones

69 Mini Truck/day

5

Sand,

6
PurnaDhungaKhani

Ward
No.6

SantiRodaDhungaUdyog

Ward
No.6

graveland

65 Mini Truck/day

stones

Source: Field Survey, July 2012

4. Pollution from Mining Industries in Chapagaon
In general, mining and mineral resources are directly linked to the environmental field. In the process of making
products pollution and waste are produced which ultimately threaten the human health and the surrounding environment.
The similar cases are found in Chapagaon area especially from the production and transport of gravel, sand and stones.
Different types of impacts of these productions and transport are analyzed below:2

4.1 Health Impact to Local People
The most obvious environmental impact from gravel, sand and stone mines in Chapagaon area is degraded air
quality, and associated health effects to the locals, resulting from airborne emissions from both the stack and the disturbed
areas at these mines. In open areas of Chapagaon, the impact of such mines on human health is not likely to be significant.
But in the residential areas, when one truck loads of sand and gravel from its excavation and starts transport to its
destination mostly in Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City and Kathmandu Metropolitan City it fills dirt, smoke, and soundpollution. Below is a list of cumulative impacts from the development of typical gravel, sand and stone mines.
•

Fumes and dust generated on the haul road to and from the mine.

•

Fleeting dust blowing from the uncovered or partially covered dump trucks.

•

Fleeting dust from poorly monitored crushers and out-of-compliance operations.

•

Fleeting dust from piles of sand and gravel at the construction sites.

•

Fleeting dust from the spreading of sand and gravel at the construction site.

•

Increased air pollution from some sand and gravel mines after they are abandoned and until naturalre-vegetation stabilizes the surface soil.
•

Surface and ground water contamination with waste from mines.

Each of the impacts listed above produces greater impact to the human health but these are difficult to measure. In
the past, smaller populations and establishment of few mines in Chapagaon made these impacts less noticeable. But now
these are observed further serious most of the local people who are on the side of narrow black-topped road area like
Pyanggaon, Chapakot, Bajrabarahi etc. are facing several health problems such as headache, dry nose, eye dimming
problem, asthmas, respiratory diseases and lungs problems. The field survey has revealed that about 30 people per month
directly or indirectly are affected by the cause of pollution from stone and stone-crushing industries in this area. In a day
1264 times the hauling trucks inter and exit from this site which produce the large amount of pollution not only smoke anddust but also sound.

4.2

Pollution on Agricultural Land
The stone and sand extraction process entails the removal of large amounts of waste too, which becomes pollution for

the agricultural land. The deposits and wastes from the stone and stone-crushing mines disturb the general flow of streams
and rivers that causes river and stream bank cutting in the rainy season. Most of the agricultural lands especially paddy
fields are on the side of Nakhu and Karmanasha streams in Chapagaon which are under the threat of stone mine andcrushing industries. The field survey of this area has recorded that about 5 Ropani paddy field of this VDC has been
destroyed in average per year especially in rainy season. Moreover, the local people are agree on the fact that thevegetables farmed on about 11 Ropani of land of this VDC are also destroying per month by the dropping sand, gravel andstones on the side of road because of the unsafe coverage of hauling trucks.

4.2.1

Impact on Soil Quality
Mining in Chapagaon area has contaminated soils over a large area. Agricultural activities near mining and crushingsite are particularly affected. The fugitive dust has created significant impact over the agriculture land of Chapakot,
Pyanggaon and Bajrabarahi area. Erosion of exposed soils, wind-blown dust, dropped pieces of sand, gravel and stone areusually posing the greatest risk over the soil quality.

4.3

Pollution on Water Bodies

3

In Chapagaon VDC, two streams namely Nakhu and Karmanasa are polluted through the flow of mine waste. The
main factors influencing water bodies pollution includes the volume and velocity of runoff from precipitation events. The
stone mines are located on upper slope area of Karmanasa stream and the mine depositions of dry season slip down withthe volume of wind and runoff. The heavy rainfall in rainy season sweeps down all deposited items of mines, it causes
several floods to the stream and full of sedimentation on Karmanasa stream. The case of Nakhu stream is different thanthat of Karmanasa. Nakhu stream is affected by the quarrying practices on the sides of it. Due to the cause of heavy
quarrying, the paddy field of both sides of this stream has converted as a water flowing area of stream, this stream iswidening year by year. The water of both of these streams is polluted so the people of adjoining areas are facing the
problem of drinking water and the use of water for secondary purposes.
Some cumulative impacts of mining in Chapagaon area on water bodies and water species are mentioned below:• Lost access of

locals to the clean water;• Deposition of mining waste on the water bodies;• Extinction of water diversity i.e. fishes, frogs, snakes, leaches, worms etc.
• Lost access of locals to the secondary use of water such as irrigating, swimming, washing, fishing etc.

4.4

Erosion/Sediment of Mining Industries
Major sources of erosion/sediment loading at mining sites can include open pit areas, heap and dump leaches, waste

rock and overburden piles etc. A further concern is that exposed materials from mining operations may contributesediments with pollutants, principally heavy deposits of gravel. The types of impacts associated with erosion andsedimentation are numerous, typically producing both short-term and long-term impacts. In surface water the erosion andwaste rock of mines fill up the depth of water level which causes toxic effects in fish.
Sediments deposited in layers in flood plains or terrestrial ecosystems can produce many impacts associated withsurface waters, ground water, and terrestrial ecosystems. In Chapagaon area erosion/sediment from the upper slope areasof Nakhu and Karmanasa Streams causes the several impacts on water aquatic fish and other species. Field survey hasrecorded that due to the cause of erosion/sediment the streams of this area are now out of indigenous fish species and otherwater species, but in past years several fish species were available such as before 3 years in Karmanasha and 15 years in
Nakhu Stream.

5. Socio-Cultural and Economic Impacts
Gravel, sand and stone mining in Chapagaon area has increased traffic congestion and safety hazards. When thesemines are operating, trucks drove through the village 10 hours per day and create dust, noise, diesel fumes, and generalcongestion in this small historic community. In Ward no. 6 of Chapagaon VDC most of the crushing and mines arelocated, it is common to note traffic hazards as trucks enter and leave public highways dozens of times each day. Anotherimportant impact of stone-crushing and stone mining is aesthetic degradation from which many land masses of Chapagaon
area are altered and green vegetations are cleared. Next impact created by these mines could be called the “public
nuisance” effect. The state has not been formulated essential regulations for the operation of stone, sand and gravel minesin this area.
The conversion of open spaces into built form has degraded the balance of built and non-built spaces that existed in
traditional settlement planning and made the place more congested and traffic jam for the longer time. The single lane4

road of Chapagaon area has been carried 1262 times of transactions of hauling trucks per day. Cumulative impacts ofripping, drilling, blasting, transport, crushing, and grinding can significantly affect the local residents. Vibrations areassociated with many types of equipments used in mining operations but blasting is considered as the major source ofstones. Vibration has affected the stability of infrastructures, traditional buildings and homes of people living near ofmines in large scale. In Chapagaon area the traditional buildings are gradually disappearing because of the easy access ofconstruction materials of new buildings. And the traditional buildings which are existed at present time are covered withthick dust flying from hauling trucks on the narrow road existed almost at the center of traditional settlements. The
traditional identity of Chapagaon area and the great influence of Bajrabarahi Temple has found now on crisis.
The social impact of large scale mining is controversial and complex to describe, exploring minerals can create
wealth, but it can also cause considerable disruption, mining activities can create jobs, roads, schools, and increase thedemands of goods and services in mining areas but the benefits and costs are unevenly shared. The Chapagaon Village
Development Committee fines only 200 rupees per month from a mining industry but in reality it has not found paid by
each and every. The mining entrepreneurs of Chapagaon VDC are found stronger than locals, the response and social
demands of locals are not found fulfilled by them. In very common sense, Social Corporate Responsibility of these mining
entrepreneurs has found null. The perception of inhabitants of this area is that the community has not got any social
contributions from mines owners. Once they demand to contribute them for the public school building but they provided
nothing.

6. Impacts on Wildlife
Wildlife is broad term that refers to all plants and animals or other organisms that are not domesticated. Mining
affects the environment and associated biota through the removal of vegetation and topsoil, displacement of fauna, releaseof pollutants and the generation of noise. Some of the cumulative impacts of mining on wildlife in Chapagaon area are
mentioned below:

6.1

Habitat Loss
Wildlife species live in communities that depend on each other. Survival of these species can depend on soil

condition, local climate, altitude and other some features of local habitat. Mining causes direct and indirect loss ofwildlife. The impacts of mining to wildlife are primarily from destruction or displacement of species in areas of
excavation and pilling of mine wastes. The habitat requirements of many animal species do not adjust to the changes
created by land disturbance. These changes reduce living species.

In Chapagaon area wildlife species like bird species,

reptiles, small mammals, amphibians etc are found disappeared.

6.2

Habitat Fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation has found in Chapagaon area when large areas of land are broken up into smaller and smaller

patches, making dispersal by native species from one patch to another difficult or impossible and cutting of migratoryroutes. Isolation has led to decline of species or genetic effects like inbreeding. The species which need large patches offorest are found disappearing from the native places.

7. Conclusions and Recommendations
Gravel, sand, and stone mines are common across Chapagaon. Although these mines are not regulated under the
Mines and Minerals Acts and Regulations of Nepal, they are registered with District Development Committee and someon Village Development Committee only. The primary environmental impact from gravel, sand and stone mines in5

Chapagaon area are degraded air quality from blowing dust particles, smoke, and dropping sands. Surface water quality
impacts from such mines in Chapagaon due to the deposition of mine and crushing waste on the side of Karmanasa andNakhu streams. Other environmental impacts include increased traffic on narrow roads; cumulative impacts asconstruction materials are hauled, stockpiled, and spread on highway and building construction areas; and aesthetic
degradation caused by gravel, sand and stone mines are found on major view areas.
Existing environmental laws are limited in scope in regulating gravel, sand and stone mines in Chapagaon. All but
the largest of these mines are considered minor sources of air pollutants and are allowed to emit limited quantities ofemissions, may be considered nuisances in local communities. But the state does not consider these impacts to besignificant or to pose serious public health hazards. Existing regulations do not account for the concentration of such
mines in and around settlement areas where the majority of highway and building construction occurs.
Mitigating the environmental impacts of gravel, sand and stone mines could be improved by making some changes toexisting regulations. The following recommendations are made to better manage pollution, environmental problems andmitigate the effects of gravel, sand and stone mines.
a.

Deny operating permits to new operations if inactive or abandoned mines could be re-opened to provide thesame resource. New operations should be permitted only if no other suitable materials are available in a given area. This
would make better use of existing resources in areas where disturbance has already occurred and prevent the random andincoherent development of gravel, sand and stone mines.
b.

Enforcing existed emission permits strongly and consistently. This would require that the state hire moreinspectors and make certain problem mines come into compliance to set an example for all operations.
c.

Deny permits to mines that propose locating in areas unsuited for mining. Mines should not be allowed tooperate near native Chapagaon “historical sites,” residential neighborhoods, historic rural communities, or in areas wherethese activities will ruin a scenic view area.
d.

Encourage the use of re-cycled materials like already used gravel and stones and reduce the extraction from newmines for construction. This would reduce the need to open new mines and help with the problem of overloaded areas.
References:
CBS (2011).Preliminary Results of National Population Census, September 2011. Government of Nepal: National Planning
Commission Secretariat Central Bureau of Statistics.
MoI (2066).Mines and Minerals Acts and Regulations. Government of Nepal: Ministry of Industry, Department of Minesand Geology.
Pradhan, Bandana and P.K. (2011).Environment and Natural Resources Concepts, Methods, Planning and Management.
Kathmandu: Quest Publication.
Village Development Committee (2067).VDC Profile, Lalitpur: Village Development Committee, Chapagaon.
Websites:www.google.com/images/chapagaon-accessed 2 July 2012.
www.google.com/chapag
aon/mines/stones/crushing industries-accessed 2 July 2012.
www. Moi.gov.np/department of mines and geology-accessed 3 July 2012.
www.mld.gov.np/local development-accessed 3 July 2012.

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