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Nepal starts largest demining operation
KATHMANDU, OCT 25 - Nepal Army (NA) has started its largest ever de-mining operation with a target of defusing within one year at least 19 major minefields that it had planted during the decade-long Maoist insurgency.
On Sunday, three of the four NA teams began their demining operation at the minefields in Jogjbuda (Dadeldhura), Lamahi (Dang) and Manthali (Ramechhap). They were deployed after a long suspension of operation due to monsoon, when demining is virtually impossible.
The 19 landmine sites to be de-mined this year include Budikhola and Vajani (Dang), Raniban (Dailekh), Chinchhu and Chamere (Surket), Nepalgunj (Banke), Sineghans (Dang), Malarani (Khalanga), Sworgadwari (Pyuthan), Sankh (Rukum), Sukajhare (Ramechhap), Dagam (Tanahun), Panchhase (Parbat), Jaitlung (Palpa) and Madanbas (Sindhupalchowk).
Demining of these fields will be prioritised on the basis of the risks they pose to the public. NA said that de-mining of some of these sites, especia-lly those in far-western Nepal could be delayed due to the recent floods, which have erased the mine markings.
Records show that after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), over 800 people have fallen victim to mine explosions.
Successful completion of the ope-ration by the end of this year would mean clearance of almost 70 percent of NA-planted landmines. NA plans to inactivate all of the identified landmines by the end of 2011, said a senior officer at NA’s Mine Action Team. According to the CPA, both NA and the Maoists must inactivate all of their mines within 60 days, which they say is impossible.
So far, the Army team has cleared 17 of the total 53 landmines and 105 out of a total of 274 improvised explosive devices planted by the NA, whereas the Maoists have destroyed a stockpile of 46,850 “dangerous items” with technical support from the UN Mine Action Team (UNMAT).
According to NA experts, it takes at least four to six weeks for a team of experts to clear one field with landmines. “Demining is a very difficult, risky, costly and time-consuming job as it gets delayed due to rain and landslides, but still we are doing our best to speed up the process,” said an NA expert.
NA claims that after receiving training from UNMAT and technical assistance from UK, Norway and Canada, its demining team has attained international standard and is capable of carrying out UN-facilitated demining operations anywhere in the world. Currently, 14 of NA’s barracks have four demining teams, each comprising around 30 members.
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