Nepali Slate Quarry

71-year-old Dhansingh of Chaurajahari Municipality-8 Goiri in Rukum West reaches the stone quarry near his house before 6 in the morning. His daily routine of taking out stones from the mine and shaping them into different shapes has been going on continuously for 56 years.

His father Bhojsingh also spent almost 40 years in this mine. Although Dhansingh did not earn a lot of money by extracting stones, he did not have to go abroad for employment.

‘Through this work, I have been raising money for family upkeep, house expenses, and children’s higher education,’ he said.

61-year-old Khime Gharti from Goiri has also reached 50 years of working in the quarry. His father Shadananda also worked in this mine for a long time.

‘I have been working in this mine since I was 11 years old following my father, I have made my 2 sons government employees with this income,’ he said, ‘I have built a 2-storey concrete house in Chaurjahari Bazar, There is not much suffering, even in old age because I am getting income. I come and work in the mine every day.»

Stones extracted from the mines here go mostly to Kathmandu and Pokhara, while the demand for them is also increasing in Nepalgunj, Butwal, Surkhet, Baglung, Dang and other places. In the beginning, it was being consumed at the local level, but in the last 5 years, most of the stones here have gone to the city.

Local Kavindra Budha said that the stone of Goiri is being used for roofing, as a ceiling in the kitchen and for making decorative materials. According to him, some people are using Goiri stone instead of marble and tiles inside the house.

‘While the quarries elsewhere are disappearing, we have been getting jobs for generations, at least one person from every family in the village has become a source of income for all households,’ Kavindra said, ‘most of them have built houses in Chaurjahari market, we are adding land.’

According to the local Kamal Vick, the stones are being sold because they cannot get them out of the mine. He said that since 3/4 months back, the stone dealer has been sending pesky amount. Lately, slate stones are being used in big hotels, various parks and tourist spots.

«Stones are being used instead of tiles and marble in the city, traders come with cars to buy stones,» Kamal added, «Production is in low demand, it has become difficult to meet the demand.»

Stones in the city He says that the number of people joining mines is also increasing after the sale. Currently, about 100 people are employed in the mine and surrounding areas. Their daily income ranges from 1000 to 5000 rupees. Their wages are determined based on the number of stones extracted from the mine.

Dhan Bahadur Chand, another worker, said that stone cutting machines were brought to the mining area as the demand for stones increased. «After bringing the machine, we don’t have to shape the stone by hand,» he said, «the work has started to become fast and easy, as the stone has been made according to the order through the machine, the sale has also increased rapidly.» He said that Babubaje also worked in this mine for a long time. «This is a mine since the time of our ancestors, we extract stones from the mine in the old way, bring them out and mold them into different shapes using machines,» he said, «Initially, these stones were only used for building houses at the local level, now the demand for stones has decreased after zinc leaf began to be used for building houses, but now Again, these stones have been used for home and park decoration is.

A stone is usually sold for 40 to 70 rupees. Land owners, miners, laborers and municipalities collect taxes from this price. The municipality charges up to 5 rupees depending on the size of the stone. Dilli Hamal, another worker, said that as the demand increased recently, the income was also increasing.

‘We have raised a family from this, we are paying for our children’s education,’ he said, ‘We are earning at least 3,000 per day since the demand is increasing.’

The municipality has built a road near the mine. City chief Pushpa Badi said that after the construction of the road from Madhyapahari Lokmarg to the mine, the traders used to bring stones to the mine with their vehicles. «Now the third generation is working in this mine, the village itself has become self-sufficient through traditional business,» he said, «Young people from nearby villages have gone abroad, while in Goiri, quarrying is stopping migration abroad, most of the people have bought real estate in the city/market with the income from quarrying.» ‘

He says that the stone found in Goiri is of a special type, so the demand for it is increasing up to the federal capital. «Mining has not only given income to the local people, but the identity of Chaurjahari has also spread to different places,» he said.

62-year-old Tula Bahadur Gharti said that he didn’t have to go to Kalapahad (India) after earning well in mining. «He spent his whole life in the stone quarry, building concrete houses in Chaurjahari market, adding land, and educating his children is the main source of income,» he said He said that he sold 100 stones for 10 rupees. He says that slate stone, which was once used to cover traditional houses, is now being used to decorate modern houses.

‘Slate stones are being used for sticking on the walls and printing on the floor in houses in Pokhara and Kathmandu,’ he said, ‘Demand for Goiri stones is also increasing in footpaths, parking lots and gardens. The demand for slate is increasing because it looks attractive and is more durable than marble.

Misar Kumar Malla, the owner of the stone quarry, said that now about 75 skilled masons and 23 workers are working in the mine. According to him, masons and others are working at the rate of at least 5 people in 15 mines that are extracting stones this season.

Every year from November to May, he says that there is work in the stone quarry. In other months, due to rains, landslides and accidents occur, the work is stopped. He informed that the price of stones ready for sale will be determined by looking at their size. According to him, stones are sold at the rate of 70 rupees per stone.

Goiri’s quarry is on private land. This year, the owner Malla said that they are extracting stones from 15 mines on the land of 5 people. Apart from that, in other mines, some are filled with stones and some are covered with soil. He said that about 250,000 stones are being extracted from the

mine this year. Chaurajahari Nagar Chief Pushpa said that the stone quarry in Goiri and Gadhimalika is a major place of employment for the locals. According to him, around 150 people are getting daily employment in both mines.

Not only those who extract stones from the mine are employed, but those who carry the stones are also earning. Those who carry stones from Goiri to Chaurjahari market get a wage of Rs.10 per stone. «Carrying 100 stones a day earns 1000 rupees,» said Rakesh Gharti, a local. He says that tractors and other cargo vehicles are also getting work while transporting stones. «After taking it to the main road, the stone is loaded on the truck and taken to different places,» he said, «The stone here has become a brand for the surrounding districts.» This stone quarry is spread over an area of ​​about 3,000 square meters.

Source: Kantipur Daily

Autor: Krishna Prasad Gautam

Photo: Unknown