Rasuwa, Mar. 15:Mineral ore such as lead has not yet been extracted from the Paigutang mine situated at an altitude of 13,500 feet in Ganesh Himal area 60 kilometres North-West from Dhunche, headquarters of Rasuwa district.

The mine was discovered five years after the Department of Zeology gave permit for exploration with a view to properly tapping indigenous resources.

Although work at the site started some 27 years ago, no progress has been made towards production nor has the state of progress been made public from time to time because of shortcomings in the management.

According to manager of Nepal Metal Company Chanchal Kumar Chakravarti, about 30 metric tonnes of ore has already been extracted and this will be enough for producing raw material for 30-40 years. With this and additional ore to be extracted, a processing factory can easily be kept going.

It costs about Rs. 400 million to set up such a factory, and talks are being held in this connection with a Canadian company.

According to tests, some 13.2 per cent of zinc, 2.1 per cent lead and 27 grams of silver can be extracted from each ton of ore.

The government has been alloting Rs 10 milion annually for running the mine, but this is not adequate, the management says.

A base camp has been set up at Somdang for storing food and necessary equipment as the mine area is covers with snow six months of the year. The material is taken to the mine site some 3 km uphill by porter.

Some 75 persons including locals have found technical and non-technical employment at the mine. Local residents of Nuwakot, Rasuwa and Dhading are getting employment transportation goods from the base camp to the mine site.

A motorable road has been constructed up to Somdang and electricity has also reached the mine site. But the management has installed a turbine to generated electricity from water originating at the site to avoid irratic power supply.

Local people here are of the opinion that if the mine is run at full capacity, it will raise the income of the country and create employment opportunities also.