DARRA ADAMKHEL, Feb 26: Authorities allowed extraction of coal in Darra Adamkhel which was stopped after army operation against militants in the region, mine owners said.

A delegation of Coal Mines Owners Association led by its chairman Haji Abdullah called on military authorities here on Tuesday and asked them to allow workers to start exploration of coal in the area.

The association chairman said that they had been permitted to carry out mining from 8am to 5pm daily.

The army assured us that security forces would not create hurdles in our work, he added.

He said that a large number of workers hailing from different parts of the province suffered due to closure of coalmine in Darra Adamkhel and also caused huge financial losses to the owners. More than 150 truck coal is explored from mines daily in the area which has huge deposits of coal.

Mining was stopped in the region after security forces launched operation against militants on Jan 25.