PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed the concerned authorities to start one-window service for issuing licences and NOCs to facilitate the investors who intend to install power crush plants and carry out river bed mining.

Presiding over a meeting of mineral development department, he asked the officials to ensure the issuance of licences and NOCs to the applicants in one week time to encourage legal river bed mining and power crushing in the province, said an official statement here on Sunday.

The chief minister urged the authorities to work out an effective mechanism to ensure implementation of safe distance as prescribed in the relevant rules for sand and gravel extraction from river beds and mining near urban and rural population so that losses to human lives and properties could be minimised in case of natural calamities.

The meeting discussed various matters related to regulating power crush plants, river bed mining and mining in urban and rural setups with special focus on effective implementation of rules framed in this regard.

The meeting was also briefed about various aspects of the proposed River Bed Mining Rules 2021. It was stated that the proposed rules were aimed at protection of rivers, its course and smooth water flow besides conservational mining of sand, gravel and stones to meet construction industry needs.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2021