Baglung, Sept. 16 -- Sand and construction aggregates are being illegally extracted from the Kali Gandaki riverbanks in Baglung district.

Although it is illegal to extract riverbed materials from mid-June to mid-September, smugglers are rampantly mining sand from the riverbanks and trading it in the market.

Surya Pathak, a member of the House of Representatives, said smugglers are using excavators for illegal mining during monsoon.

"Illegal extraction of sand has gone unchecked in the district, as smugglers are working in collusion with the police personnel and government employees," said Pathak. "I have raised the issue in the Parliament thrice, but no one paid heed to the matter."

Last year, the Baglung bench of the High Court in Po...