GUJRAT: In order to closely monitor rising complaints of sand theft from Chenab and Jhelum rivers, the Punjab government’s mines and minerals department has bifurcated Sialkot region to create a new region comprising Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin and Jhelum districts.

The new region is called Jhelum region. The Sialkot region earlier comprised all districts of Gujranwala division – Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Sialkot -- whereas Jhelum district was part of Rawalpindi region.

Jhelum region Assistant Director Muhammad Naveed Butt told Dawn the decision to create a new region had been implemented around two weeks ago. Relevant official record of the three districts was being shifted to the newly established office, which was set up in a rented building in Jhelum city for the time being. He said the new region would be headed by the Rawalpindi region deputy director since its own staff was yet to be recruited; Pindi office had provided some staff temporarily to make the Jhelum region functional.

Asked why the department had created a new region, he said complaints of sand theft and other violations particularly in these three districts were on the rise as head offices of both Sialkot and Rawalpindi regions were located far off. This had created hurdles in controlling such an illegal practice.

With the establishment of the new region, officials concerned would be visiting sand lifting sites regularly for inspection. An official source said there were 21 sites in Gujrat district: nine points along the Chenab, three along the river in Mandi Bahauddin district and as many in Jhelum district along the river besides a number of storm water drains in these districts where the department used to award contracts of sand-lifting according to law.

Since Chenab river’s sand is known to be the best in quality, the mines and mineral department earned at least Rs300 million from sand lifting in Gujrat alone during the auction two years ago. The income from other points in Chenab and Jhelum rivers as well as from storm water drains was also estimated to be in millions of rupees.

On Wednesday, auction of at least nine blocks along Chenab and some storm water channels was held at the district government complex presided over by District Officer (Coordination) Waqar Hussain Khan.

Only four blocks were auctioned with the remaining to be auctioned on May 18 since the parties did not show interest in them. Officials say the river was now full in those particular blocks so sand lifting was not possible for now.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2016