THATTA, May 31: The illegal lifting of sand and gravel (Reti-Bajri) along the Ran Pathani Railway Bridge and SSGC high-pressure pipeline in Thatta district on regular basis has become a threat to the national installations and requires immediate action of authorities concerned.

In response to dozens of applications of villagers living in vicinity of the gas pipeline about a potential disaster that may occur due to the sand lifting, the gas company authorities had approached the DCO and the DPO of Thatta to get stopped the illegal activity but to no avail.

The villagers stated in their applications that those who were lifting sand were running an illegal business in connivance with high-ups of the mineral and mines department and claimed that a close relative of a Sindh minister was also supporting them.

The villagers said that digging in vicinity of the railway track of Jungshshai-Jhimpir section was one of the main reasons of the collapse of the Ran Pathani Railway Bridge last year.

The general manager of the SSGC, Shaikh Manzoor, and DG Lt-Col (r) Pervez Anwar Gill wrote in their letters to the Thatta administration (copies of which have been provided to newsmen) that due to the massive digging, the gas pipeline was in a great danger.

They said that the removing of earth may result in the pipeline’s rupture and interruption of gas supply to Karachi and added that such sand lifting in the vicinity of the gas pipeline was against the Minerals Gas Safety Rules 1960.

The official letters warned the district administration that the frequent movement of heavy equipment, loaders, bulldozers and hundreds of sand-loaded trucks and dumpers per day on the pipeline could result in a disaster.

When SSGC Security Services Deputy Chief Manager Squadron Leader (r) Anujm Ali Qazi was contacted for comments, he said that after prompt steps taken against illegal sand lifters and beefing up of patrol along the high-pressure pipelines, the digging activity had considerably been declined in the area.

The villagers, however, refuted the official claims and said that the vested interests were still active in area.

DCO Dr Laeeq Memon and DPO Naeem Shaikh could not be contacted for comments due to their meetings in Karachi.