LG reps urge KP govt to ensure mining companies with rules

MANSEHRA: The local government representatives on Friday demanded the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to ensure that mining companies operating in Oghi and Darband tehsils comply with the province’s regulations to prevent pollution and other hazards.

“Roads and infrastructure have been destroyed, and both underground and surface water resources have shrunk due to the excavation of granite and other minerals. Yet, these companies have neither paid royalties nor compensated local governments for the damage,” Ijaz Ahmad, chairman of Shergar Village Council, told reporters in Oghi.

He criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Minerals Development for failing to enforce its rules and regulations, resulting in mineral-rich areas people were suffering the

brunt of it. “If mining companies are legally bound to pay royalties, local governments could use those funds for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of affected areas in the larger public interest,” Ijaz Ahmad said.

The chairman highlighted that the Shergar to Oghi road has severely been damaged due to the transportation of heavy granite rocks by trucks, causing hardships for motorists and passengers.

“The government has not allocated a single penny to tehsil and village councils as royalty, nor has it taken any steps to reconstruct the damaged infrastructure,” he added.He also pointed out that the previous Oghi tehsil council had imposed a tax on mineral transportation, but some influential individuals had withdrawn it later.

“Many people have lost their lives in recent years due to accidents during mineral excavation and transportation, yet local communities have not benefited from these mining operations,” Ijaz Ahmad stated.

He urged the government to empower the local governments to impose levies on mineral transportation and utilise the revenue for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure.