Call to restore Tehsil levy on mineral transportation

MANSEHRA: The Local Government (LG) representatives on Tuesday urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to restore the Tehsil levy on the transportation of minerals.

“Oghi Tehsil Council had imposed levy on the transportation of minerals excavated from its jurisdiction around four years ago, but the then-provincial government later withdrew it ,” Ijaz Ahmad the chairman of Shergar Village Council told reporters in Oghi.

Flanked by members of his council, he said the excavation and transportation of granite and other minerals had severely damaged local water sources, forests, and roads.“Residents of our tehsil are suffering due to extensive granite and mineral excavation, as public sector departments are reluctant to take action for restoration of damaged infrastructure,” Ejaz said.

He added that Oghi Tehsil was rich in minerals, with dozens of companies engaged in excavation, yet the residents were deprived of royalty payments. “Some companies have encroached on local forests, destroying trees, flora, and fauna, yet no organised crackdown has been launched against them,” Ejaz said.

He said that the previous tehsil government in Oghi had imposed a levy on the transportation of granite and other minerals to different parts of the country, intending to use the funds for road repairs and infrastructure development. However, the provincial government later revoked this levy.

“The provincial government should amend the Local Government Act 2013 to empower tehsil, village, and neighbourhood councils to impose levy on mineral excavation and transportation within their respective jurisdictions and utilise the revenue for the restoration of affected infrastructure,” he demanded.