February 19, 2002	Tuesday	Zilhaj 6, 1422

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DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Feb 18: Illegal lifting of sand from the eastern bed of river Indus is posing a serious threat to the protection bund which was constructed to save the cantonment and civil areas of the city.

At present a minimum of 100 trucks/tractor trolleys are busy in lifting the sand from the eastern bed of river Indus daily.

This sand is utilized in construction work both in private and public sectors.

This has been a practice for the past so many years that without carrying out any prior studies, lifting of sand from the river bed was auctioned every season and it generated some funds for the Cantonment Board or Municipal Committee, but this year, with the change in the government system, no auction was announced but a few blue-eyed are making money for their own pockets.

The lifting of sand from the eastern bed of the river has serious repercussions and is posing serious threat to the river banks and protection bund.

The digging of deep trenches along the river bed when it is dry during the winter season creates a havoc during the flood season in summer when water rushes towards this bed, changes its course and speed and exerts pressure on the protection bund. Emergency was declared at least on three occasions during the last decade due to increase in pressure on the protection bund, forcing families of the area to shift to safer place.

The eastern bank also hosts four nullahs which carry untreated sewage water directly into the river which is not only polluting the water but also posing threat to the aqua life.

With the lifting of sand from this side of the bank, deep trenches and ditches have developed which have turned into small lakes where this sewage water stays during the winter season. These trenches also act as nurseries for mosquitoes and other insects.

The irrigation authorities conveyed their reservations to the local authorities on various occasions about the increasing danger to various spurs and protection bunds, asking them to discourage the lifting of sand but all their efforts proved futile as the practice is still going on which may cause a havoc during the next few years.