March 7: The demand for ‘slate stone’ available in Bheri Municipality’s Mahtara village and Junichande Rural Municipality has increased in big cities of late. 

Slate stones are collected and processed at Jajarkot Stone Suppliers and Cutting Center located at Bhurchaur of Bheri Municiaplity-10 and sent to other places through the center. 

Slate stones processed at the center don’t change their colour nor do they fade away. The processed stones look natural and attractive. Thus, they are increasingly used in house construction, said center’ proprietor Mahendra Shahi. 

Slates stones are becoming an alternative to imported marbles and tiles lately. Stones are being used for decorations in modern house. They are also being used in temple, and trekking routes.

Slate is mostly supplied to Nepalgunj and Surkhet. But, stales are reaching Pokhara, Kathmandu, Chitwan, Butwal, Dang, Biratnagar, Nepalgunj and other cities as well, said proprietor Shahi. 

“We are having a hard time meeting the high demand,” said owner Mahendra Shahi. He said that he was selling 25 trucks of slates in a year.