BAGLUNG, April 11: Illegal quarrying of stones in Tara VDC of Baglung continues unabated regardless of the threat it poses to nearby human settlements and environment.

Around 24 stone quarries are being run illegally in Tara VDC, but the authorities have turned a blind eye, said Hari Subedi, a local. 
“The operators of these quarries are ignoring the long-term impact that their activity would have on the environment and nearby human settlements,” said Subedi. The operators had agreed to contribute a part of their earnings to local schools, but the promise was never kept, said another local Krishna Kandel.
“Both Kasare Kharani School and Trisul Primary School have not received any financial support,” said Kandel. He also said that the operators have been avoiding legal action as they have high-level contacts.
“Quarry operators are supposed to acquire permission from the Department of Mines and Geology and District Development Committee. But most of them have not acquired permission,” claimed Kandel. 
Meanwhile, District Forest Officer Kishore Chandra Gautam said he was unaware of the illegal quarries. “We will look into the matter and take action against operators running illegal quarries,” assured Gautam.
AGLUNG, April 10: The UCPN (Maoist) is conducting training to party cadres at the Kaligandaki Cinema hall in Baglung on Wednesday afternoon.
The session was originally scheduled to begin at 8 in the morning. Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Vice-Chairman Baburam Bhattarai, among other top Maoist leaders, are involved in imparting the training. 
A day earlier, the Maoist leaders had arrived in Baglung. They went to Pokhara to spend the night and again came back to Baglung this morning for the program, which is being organized by the party’s western bureau. As many as 600 party cadres from 17 districts under the party’s Magarat State Council are attending the training.