Mountain. Locals have once again demanded to excavate a possible iron mine at Mahashila Rural Municipality-6 here, four years ago, a team of the Department of Mines and Geology, Lainchaur, Kathmandu had started the process to excavate the mine, but returned only after studying and researching. Geologists studied through ERT (Electrical Resistance Technology) and found evidence of abundant iron. Iron was found on the surface in some places and underground in some places.

It is estimated that the mine has spread over a length of two kilometers in the iron mine. However, the locals have been disappointed as they have not shown promptness from anywhere despite repeated demands for the excavation of iron mines. Mahashila-6 ward chair Govinda Bahadur BK said that although the central government and sometimes the state government demanded excavation, the policy and program would be discussed but the budget was not allocated.

An agreement was also signed between the Department of Mines and Geology and Lumbini-based Nepal Parbat Mineral Industry on December 1, 2009 for the operation of the mine. However, the company did not show interest for a long time, but the department came and studied, but the other process has not started, he said.

The iron mine is located at a distance of about 35 kilometers from the district headquarters Kusma Bazar. Locals have been demanding for a long time to carry out a detailed survey of the mine spread over The Mahashila Ward No. 5 Lungkhuderali and Ward No. 6 Iron Mine area.

According to the elders, the iron materials excavated by the locals can be purchased and seen till 2040 BS. They say that the iron here does not have to be processed like elsewhere. Prem Bahadur Sunar, a local, said that although the iron extracted from the mine could be heated directly to make the necessary materials, it stopped mining due to lack of coal.

According to him, at that time, domestic weapons made from iron were sold in different villages of Baglung, Palpa and Syangja. Since modern machines and roads do not travel, iron logs were also used in the bridges constructed in the rivers around the mountain. The bridges at Modiveni and Jaiminighat can still be seen.

Ward chair BK said that the village was named iron mine at that time as there was a possible iron mine throughout the village. According to ward chair BK, at least one person from bk and darji families living in the iron mine used to live in the iron mine at that time. He said that if iron mines are mined here, it will benefit the country’s economic condition and provide employment opportunities to hundreds of youths.

Bal Bahadur Chhetri, a local, said they had to use imported iron as they could not excavate the iron mine at their doorsteps. According to him, various efforts were made by the government and various miners and geologists in the 2060s at the initiative of the then District Development Committee, but it was not possible.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed concern to move ahead with the process of operating the iron mine which is closed. At a programme organized at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar on Friday, he directed the departmental ministers and secretaries to bring the iron mines into operation immediately. He directed all the ministers and secretaries to carry out new and epoch-making works and to start study and research to bring it into operation immediately. He directed minister for industry, commerce and supplies Damodar Bhandari and secretary at the ministry Dr Ram Prasad Ghimire to conduct the study and research.

Pm Oli said, “There are still iron-made bridges in various rivulets of Parbat and Kaski at Maimdanda of the erstwhile Iron Khani VDC. Especially in Bhimad of Pokhara, sangalwala bridge is still hanging. The bridge built by the hard work of the blacksmiths there is still hanging. Prime Minister Oli said that the iron mine of parbat could be mixed with the iron of Dhauwadi to produce an advanced type of iron. He stressed the need for operating such industries for the country’s economic prosperity, employment generation and replacing imported iron.