ABBOTTABAD: Some influential people have been causing huge loss to the national exchequer by carrying out illegal mining with the alleged connivance of officials in Hazara division.

This claim was made by Sherbandi Khan Marwat, president of Frontier Mine Owners Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in a report sent to the chairman of chief minister`s monitoring cell with a request to take immediate steps to stop the ongoing illegal mining activities being carried out in parts of Abbottabad and Hazara division.

He said that such activities were going on unchecked at Tarnawai Phosphate Block `C`, Ghazi (Gawari) Mineral Plots and Fauji Phosphate, Kakul. The list also includes illegal mining oflimestone and marble in Khanpur (Haripur), Mansehra, Kohistan and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Malakand, Kohat and Nowshera.

Mr Marwat claimed in his report that in Kakul area in Abbottabad the illegal mining of phosphate was going on in two areas, including the area surrendered to mineral department and granted area controlled by military authorities.

About 100 to 150 quarries and dangerous tunnels are illegally developed in this area using heavy machinery like excavators and compressors, and about 500 people are working illegally in this area.

He said that the influential people were transporting the mined material to market on chalan slips illegally provided by the mineral department. Each quarry`s production is about 15 tons to 20 tons a day having total daily illegal production valuing at about Rs5 million. He said that a serious accident could occur any day resulting in loss of lives of the labourers.

The second major area is of Tarnawai Phosphate Block C where due to illegal mining at least 12 casualties had been reported in recentpast. Currently, over 100 people are illegally working there.

Mr Marwat stated that large-scale illegal excavation of sand was being carried out in Haripur district`s Ghazi (Gawari) Minor Mineral Plots for the last about five months. About 100 trucks of sand a day are being transported. Besides, illegal mining of limestone and marble continues in Khanpur.

He alleged that negative role played by some high-ups in the department had forced genuine investors to run away, causing huge loss to the national exchequer as on the one side the government could not pocket the royalty and other fees from leaseholders, on the other it was losing a heavy amount of money due to illegal mining.

The association president said that different inquires were conducted in past, but no action was taken on their findings.

He suggested establishment of special force like forest guards and other measures to stop illegal mining. He said that inspection board should be constituted to conduct inquiries into cases of illegal mining and monitor all mining activities in the province.