Khari mining in Darchula’s duhu provides local employment, boosts revenue through exports to India

Darchula: The ongoing extraction of Khari (gravel) in Duhu Rural Municipality-5, Darchula, has provided employment opportunities for local residents and contributed to government revenue through exports to India.

For the past eight years, Khari mined from the Naumune area in northern Darchula has been exported via the Khalanga border post, according to Sudip Manandhar, Chief of the Darchula Customs Office. Geo Mineral Resources Pvt. Ltd., based in Kanchanpur, registered the mine with the Department of Mines and Geology under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies in fiscal year 2074/75 and began extraction soon after.

Fifteen local men and women, including Dan Singh Mahara of Garmora, Duhu Rural Municipality-5, have found employment at the site, earning a daily wage of Rs 750. Mahara, who previously worked in India, expressed satisfaction at securing employment close to home.

Dr. Suraj Prasad Bhatta, operator of the mining company, said he is pleased to be providing jobs in a remote area. In addition to local residents, individuals from outside the district are also gaining employment. Seventeen tractors are currently in operation to transport the extracted ore to Khalanga, generating additional work for tractor drivers, traders, and support workers.

The mine operates for eight months a year, halting operations during the monsoon season—Asar to Asoj—due to weather conditions. Dr. Bhatta also noted periodic disruptions caused by disputes with landowners and emphasized the need for government support to ensure access to mineral-rich land for uninterrupted operations.

The company has leased 5.87 square kilometers of land in Naumune for Khari extraction. Since fiscal year 2074/75, Geo Mineral Resources Pvt. Ltd. has exported 3,838 tons of Khari to India. The Darchula Customs Office reports a revenue collection of Rs 5.757 million from these exports, remitted to the government treasury.