Unauthorised extraction of minerals, gravel in Thatta district continues

Published December 18, 2019
Residents of these villages said blasts and noise of heavy machinery disturbing the otherwise peaceful atmosphere in their localities were order of the day. — File
Residents of these villages said blasts and noise of heavy machinery disturbing the otherwise peaceful atmosphere in their localities were order of the day. — File

THATTA: Unauthorised traders and truckers have been continuing to extract yellow stone, iron ore, limestone, marble and gravel (reti bajri) from different areas of Thatta city, Sonda, Jherruk and other parts of Thatta district causing pilferage of the mineral resources of the coastal belt and heavy losses to the provincial kitty.

Official and unofficial sources told Dawn during a recent visit to the areas that tonnes of the mineral resources were being extracted and transported to Karachi, Hyderabad and other cities every day.

Routinely, 30 to 40 truckloads of golden marble, limestone, iron ore and other minerals as well as gravel were being transported from these areas, they said.

Wondering why no officials of the departments concerned kept a check on the illegal activity of extraction and transportation of these consignments, they apprehended that the traders and truckers were hands in glove with them in this unauthorised business.

“One could see heavy machinery at work any time during the day near many villages like Sheikh Ismail, Lakho Pir, Dadori, Jherruk, Chillya and Onger,” sources requesting anonymity pointed out.

Residents of these villages, including Kamal Shoro, Mumtaz Jakhro, Pir Anwar Shah, Ibrahim Jakhro, Allah Jurio Burfat, Sarang Chandio and Sattar Bahrani, said blasts and noise of heavy machinery disturbing the otherwise peaceful atmosphere in their localities were order of the day.

They also complained that the extraction activity would keep the environment dusty.

Some of them said the blasts had caused cracks in the walls of their houses.

In the recent past, chief inspector of the mines and mineral department Syed Irshad Ahmed Jilani, acting upon such complaints had asked his subordinates to seek assistance of police in order to address the issue but the illegal activity has continued unabated till date.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2019

Must Read

Ukraine, Nato and the future of Europe

Ukraine, Nato and the future of Europe

The spectacle of the verbal spat between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky in the Oval Office was stark evidence of a tectonic shift in longstanding US foreign policy on Ukraine, Russia, Europe and Nato.

Opinion

Editorial

After the review
Updated 16 Mar, 2025

After the review

Should prepare economy for durable growth by attracting foreign private investments to boost productivity and exports.
Embracing crypto
16 Mar, 2025

Embracing crypto

IT seems a little prod was all it took for Pakistan to finally ‘embrace the future’. The Pakistan Crypto Council...
Fault lines
16 Mar, 2025

Fault lines

IT was a distressing spectacle, though a sadly predictable one. As the National Assembly took up for discussion the...
Revised solar policy
Updated 15 Mar, 2025

Revised solar policy

Criticism policy revisions misplaced as these will increase payback periods for consumers with oversized solar systems.
Toxic prejudice
15 Mar, 2025

Toxic prejudice

WITH far-right movements on the march across the world, it is no surprise that anti-Muslim bias is witnessing high...
Children in jails
15 Mar, 2025

Children in jails

PAKISTAN’S children in prison have often been treated like adult criminals. The Sindh government’s programme to...