Kathmandu: The Department of Mines and Geology has granted permission to various companies for mineral study and excavation at eight different places across the country including limestone, marble, Kaolin, sand and copper.

According to the department, permission has been granted for limestone quarrying at Tandrangadhi and Jurethum in Dhading. Spokesperson for the department, Jayaraj Ghimire said that permission has been granted for extraction to Sarbottam Cement in Tandrangadhi and Shakti Cement in Jurethum.

Similarly, Aritent Mineral Pvt Ltd has been given permission to excavate marble from Bhimphedi, Gorkha Resources Pvt Ltd and Maharjan Mining Industries Pvt Ltd have been given permission to excavate sand in Gandaki village of Gorkha.

Likewise, for the study of kaolin in Daman, Makwanpur and copper in Okharbot, Baglung, permissions have been granted to Sembahyang Prime Resources Pvt. Ltd. and Dongi Mineral Pvt Ltd, respectively. Ram Prasad Ghimire, director general of the department, said that the department had invited bids for excavation and permission for a total of 13 different places among which no bids were placed for four places and one bid was cancelled.

The department has also collected revenue of Rs. 370 million after granting permission for mining at eight places. Similarly, the department is also conducting geo-engineering and environmental studies in different parts of the country.

According to the department, geo-engineering and environmental studies of 22 different cities across the country have been completed since 1996. The department has been conducting geo-engineering and environmental studies of one city every year. In the current fiscal year, the department completed the work of geo-engineering and environmental study in Gulariya, Bardiya.