SHANGLA: The district administration has launched an operation against illegal mining and stone crushing plants in Shangla.

A statement issued by the administration said that the crackdown was launched across the district on illegal mining and crushing plants.

Deputy Commissioner Hassan Abid told Dawn on Wednesday FIRs were registered against the people involved in illegal mining. He said that the operation was launched after holding several meetings with the officials of mines and mineral department.

He said several mines, particularly of gravel, sand and various kinds of stones found in parts of Shangla, and crushing plants were sealed in Bisham, Alpuri, Puran, Martung, Chakisar and Kana.

The deputy commissioner said that the operation was launched after a tragic incident occurred in Martung due to illegal excavation that left eight children of a family dead. He said that FIR was registered in that case too as no-objection certificate was not obtained from the mineral department for excavation of the site. The site was located in residential area that caused the loss of eight lives, he added.

Mohammad Hamid Saddiqui, the assistant commissioner of Chakisar, said he registered an FIR and sealed several illegal mines and stone crushing plants in the limits of his tehsil.

He said the crackdown would continued in the area because most of the miners had not obtained NOC and were operating illegally without following rules and guidelines of mineral department.

Naveed Ahmad, the assistant commissioner of Alpuri, removed encroachments from different bazaars on Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2023