MANSEHRA: The representatives of local governments in Oghi tehsil here have warned they will take to the streets after a week if the mineral department doesn`t check `gross violations` of laws by the mining companies in the area.

`The mining companies have widely been destroying forests, water sources, rivers, roads and other infrastructure in the tehsil and if mineral department doesn`t take prompt action we block main road as dumping of rocks and soil at rivers could cause silting in Tarbela dam,` nazim of Judain village council Mohammad Rasheed told a news conference in Oghi on Wednesday.

Nazim of the Pugwain village council Saeed Ahmad, Nikka Pani village council nazim Abdul Rasheed and councillors were also present on the occasion.

Nazim Rasheed said the mining companies had been excavating a large mountainous area in Bandi Parow village to find granite and thus, destroying a large portion of forests.

He said scores of pine and deodar trees were uprooted during excavation by mining firms but ironically, the provincial government was silent on the huge loss to environment and exchequer despite launching the Tsunami billion trees programme.

Nazim Saeed Ahmad said many people suffered injuries after the mining companies threw rocks and earth down the mountains.

`The Oghi-Darband Road mostly remains blocked as rocks and soil excavated at mining sites fell on it,` he said.

The nazim said the excavation of mountains had also led to the depletion of underground water besides pollution of rivers and streams.

TWO KILLED: A man killed his wife and her alleged paramour in Dasu area of upper Kohistan on Wednesday morning. Dasu police station moharrar Mohammad Saleem said both the deceased were close relatives. He said the police had lodged an FIR and would ensure the early arrest of the suspect, who was at large .Correspondent