Dhading, Nepal - The United Cement Factory located in Dhunibeshi, Dhading, has emerged as a growing source of concern for local residents, farmers, and environmental observers, highlighting deeper challenges around industrial siting, environmental governance, and sustainable development in Nepal.
Situated amid a densely populated residential area, the cement plant operates in close proximity to homes, farmland, and livestock shelters. Local communities report that persistent noise pollution, combined with intense emissions released during night-time operations, has significantly disrupted daily life and raised serious public health concerns.
Night-Time Emissions and Air Quality Fears
Residents allege that the factory releases thick, dark smog in large volumes at night, a time when monitoring and visibility are limited. While official emission data has not been made publicly available, locals say the air often becomes heavy and difficult to breathe, particularly affecting children, elderly people, and those with respiratory conditions.
Community members report increased cases of chronic coughing, eye irritation, headaches, and breathing difficulties, suggesting potential long-term health risks if emissions continue unchecked.
Impact on Agriculture and Livelihoods
Beyond human health, the environmental impact is increasingly visible on surrounding farmland. Farmers claim that cement dust settles on crops, reducing soil quality and affecting photosynthesis. As a result, agricultural yields have declined, directly threatening household incomes in a region where farming remains a primary livelihood.
Livestock owners have also expressed concern, noting reduced animal health and productivity, which they attribute to polluted air, contaminated fodder, and degraded grazing areas.
Development Without Local Benefit?
One of the most sensitive issues raised by the community is the lack of local economic inclusion. According to residents, the factory has provided minimal employment opportunities to people from the immediate area. Additionally, there are allegations that the company has not made meaningful contributions to local infrastructure, health services, or community development, intensifying feelings of exclusion and injustice.
This has fueled a broader debate: who truly benefits from industrial development when environmental and social costs are borne locally?
Environmental Governance Under Scrutiny
Environmental experts note that cement production is inherently resource-intensive, requiring large quantities of limestone, water, and energy. When such industries operate near residential zones without strong oversight, the risks multiply-not only for people but for ecosystems, livestock, and long-term land productivity.
The situation in Dhunibensi raises urgent questions about:
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) compliance
Continuous emission monitoring
Enforcement of buffer zones between industries and settlements
Corporate responsibility toward host communities
A Call for Sustainable and Responsible Industry
Local residents are calling on government regulators, environmental authorities, and the factory management to take immediate action. Their demands include transparent emission monitoring, stricter pollution controls, health impact assessments, and meaningful dialogue with the community.
For Nepal, which is striving to balance infrastructure growth with environmental protection, Dhunibeshi serves as a critical case study. Sustainable development, experts emphasize, must not come at the cost of public health, food security, and ecological stability.
