KATHMANDU: The Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES) has expressed displeasure over the government policy measure on the extraction of sand and pebbles.

The human rights-based organization has put its stance that the extraction of pebbles, stone, and sand was to perpetuate over-exploitation of the Chure region which would ultimately push the land to desertification.

Expressing serious concern over the government’s plan to extract the pebbles and sand, the organization terms the policy measure environmentally detrimental.

HURPES urged the government to withdraw the policy taking into consideration the need to protect the environment, stated a press release issued by its general-secretary Renuka Poudel.