ATTOCK, July 28: Excessive sand-mining along the Attock-Sanjwal Highway linking the city to the G.T. Road has threatened the passageway with collapse, but the authorities concerned have yet to take any measure to protect it.

For the last over one year, public complaints and media reports about the issue have fallen on deaf ears, putting the lives of the commuters at risk.

About 500 metres portion of the road near Joggian village, which is a sand mines area, has become very dangerous due to the uncontrolled sand mining.

A few years back, a protection wall was built on the road but it collapsed in 2012.

With the passage of time, the threat to the highway has increased due to the careless sand mining by private companies to get maximum sand for construction and other purposes. Under the mining safety rules and regulations, the miners cannot extract sand within 100 metres of any highway.

ssBut in case of this road, the miners, who are mostly influential people, have completely disregard the rules and continue digging very close to the road. On the other hand, the authorities of the Punjab mineral department have remained oblivious to the issue due to the influence of the miners.

The residents of the area said they had brought the issue into the notice of the authorities concerned, including the mineral development, over a year back but no one took action.

Now about 70 per cent of the road portion has already collapsed damaging the electricity polls erected along the roadside. Besides, about 200 ditches have appeared along the road.

In stead of taking any action, the highway department just placed warning boards and did white marking along the road to warn the motorists of the danger.

If timely action is not taken, the road will completely collapse any time, said the area people.

It may be noted that millions of rupees were utlised for the construction of the Attock-Sanjwal Highway in the recent past.

The road connects Attock, the Pakistan Ordinance factory (POF), Sanjwal and the artillery regimental training centre with the G.T. Road.

It may also be mentioned that this road is also used for the transportation of arms and ammunition between POF Wah and Sanjwal besides movement of troops to and from the artillery centre.

The area people said a proper concrete wall should be constructed on the road to stop further damage to the road.

Besides, the sand miners should be forced to remain off the prescribed limits.

The residents said when they contacted the concerned departments, they passed the buck to each other.

The residents demanded that the government should take appropriate measures to protect the road from further damage.