Rs300m loss: illegal digging, mining continue in Nowshera

PESHAWAR: Illegal digging and mining is continuing in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa despite the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government’s claims. Even in Nowshera, the district of chief minister, illegal mining is going on.

According to an official document available with the writer, at least Rs303.429 million losses have been caused to the national exchequer due to illegal digging and mining only in Nowshera. The Supreme Court has already taken notice of the situation and during a hearing recently, the chief secretary was imposed Rs50,000 over failure to stop the illegal activity.

The document shows that a review committee visited various areas of Nowshera and collected data about illegal digging and mining going on in the district. The committee visited Karnal Sher Khan Kalay, Mian Esa Nandarak, Mughalkai Paharian, and Misiri Banda in district Nowshera and inspected for themselves the mining activities there. The committee also saw digging out of cement, limestone and other minerals illegally.

According to the report, more than 1.564 million tonnes of minerals in Nowshera illegally till July 20, 2017. The minerals also included sand used in buildings construction and others. Also 243,191 tonnes of cement and limestone were dug out. The team observed on Oct 23, 2017 excavation of 243, 919 tonnes of cement and limestone. The members said these mineral are being sold in the open market for Rs70 per tonne. The total worth of these minerals was estimated at Rs192.854 million.

The committee said the mining and digging work was continuing at various sites, and at least 782,303-tonne more minerals including building sand could be dug out in the coming days, which might inflict losses worth Rs54.761 million on the national kitty. Also, 797347-tonne limestone and cement-stone could be excavated causing further losses of Rs55.814 million to the national exchequer.