February 20: Chiefs of various wards under Gadhi Rural Municipality have urged the locals not to shut down the mine of state-owned Hetauda Cement Factory. The locals have resorted to protest by obstructing the road since Saturday. Following the obstruction, ward chiefs of three ward offices issued separate statements urging  the agitators not to obstruct vehicular movement.

Ward 2,7 and 8 of Makwanpurgadhi said in the statement that their attention has been drawn to the protests carried by the locals in the name of community protection committee. The ward offices assured the agitators that they are willing to solve the issue amicably and urged the protestors not to obstruct vehicular movement.

Bakhan Singh Pakhrin, chief of ward 2; Surya Bahadur Rumba, chief of ward 7 and Kumar Singh Ghising; chief of ward 8 also requested the agitators not to breach the laws.

Hetauda Cement Factory has been relying on limestone from Majhuwa, Bhimfedi and Okhare of Gadhi Rural Municipality in Makwanpur district as well as from Jogimara of Dhading.