Kathmandu. A study has been started for copper mining in Machchim, Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality-7, Myagdi. The company 'MS Dongyi Minerals' Pvt. Ltd., which has received permission from the Department of Mines and Geology, has started the study for prospecting and mining of copper mines. In Pakho, which is close to Macchim village, copper mines in six places have been closed for five decades.

Ashok Khatri, the ward president of Dhawalagiri-7, said that a team of geologists had come for a study to identify the amount of copper in the mine. "The team that came last week inspected the place where the copper mine was in the first phase", he said, "The team has also discussed the construction of the access road to the place where the mine is."

Ward president Khatri said that after the exploration and feasibility study of the mine, the process of excavation will be carried out in the next phase. Locals have expressed their happiness that studies have been started for mining. Kul Bahadur Chantyal, a resident of Macchim, said that to avoid environmental and disaster incidents, we should exercise caution and give priority to those affected in employment. According to him, copper was being extracted from Machhim mine by 2028 using local technology.

Chantyal said that due to the lack of technology and having to pay taxes to the state more than the income, the copper mine was closed at that time. There is a history of the Chantyal community who came for copper mining settling in Macchim. The ancestral profession of the Chantyal community is mining.