June 13: Five former prime ministers have demanded the government to immediately withdraw the new arrangement made for the export of sand, aggregates, and stones through the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Former Prime Ministers Sher Bahadur Deuba, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhala Nath Khanal, and Baburam Bhattarai on June 12 issued the joint statement demanding the withdrawal of the provision from the budget.

The former prime ministers were of the view that the country is facing an unstable political situation due to the wrongdoings of the incumbent prime minister. They said that the decision of the government to excavate stones, aggregates, and sand from different parts of the country and export them abroad in the name of reducing the trade deficit is anti-national and against the well-being of the citizens.

They pointed out that the implementation of such provision would create a serious environmental problem by affecting the geography of Nepal which is in a very sensitive situation. Likewise, environmentalists say such excavations in the Chure and Mahabharata ranges could lead to deforestation, drying up of water sources, and desertification in the Terai region.

"We strongly oppose the government's decision and demand its immediate revocation. We urge the caretaker government not to work in a way that affects the country and the people, and request the administration, security, and other state bodies not to engage in such wrongdoings," the joint statement said.

In the budget for the Fiscal Year 2021/22, the government has announced to reduce the trade deficit by extracting minerals, stones, and aggregates.

Political parties including the Nepali Congress, Maoist Center, Janata Samajwadi Party, Rastriya Janamorcha, and environmentalists have been criticizing the government for exploiting the Chure region.