MANSEHRA: The forest department on Wednesday sealed four mines for illegally quarrying granite from the Shergar forest range here.

The action was taken over complaints about deforestation and harm to the environment by the illegal extraction of granite, a precious stone, and other minerals, according to assistant divisional forest officer Mohammad Zahoor.

He told reporters in Oghi tehsil here that the department had initiated work for the punishment of culprits under the law.

Mr Zahoor said no one would be allowed to illegally quarry granite and other minerals from the state-owned forest.

Official says culprits will be punished under the law

Meanwhile, Umar Khattab Jalwal, chairman of the Tanawal Action Committee, claimed that illegal mining was under way on a large scale in Agror and Tanawal areas as authorities weren’t taking concrete measures to address the issue.

“The illegal quarrying is damaging water resources and infrastructure in our area,” he said, accusing influential people of carrying out the activity.

Mr Jalwal also complained that the Darband-Oghi and Mansehra Road was damaged by the trucks carrying granite and other minerals from the area to Punjab and other parts of the country.

He highlighted the depleting water table in the area and blamed it on rock blasting and mineral quarrying. The committee’s head urged the provincial government to intervene to check illegal mining and said mining royalty should be spent on infrastructure development and people’s welfare.

PLANTATION: The tehsil municipal administration in collaboration with the forest department on Wednesday launched a tree plantation campaign in Mansehra city and its suburbs.

District and sessions Judge Sadia Arshad inaugurated the drive by planting a sapling at the land acquired for the construction of the New Judicial Complex.

“For the next generations, nothing will be a better gift than healthy environment from us,” she said.

Judicial officers, tehsil municipal officer, president of the district bar association, representatives of the forest department, and staff members of the district courts attended the event.

TMO Mazhar Muzzaffar Awan said the tehsil municipal administration would plant saplings in parks and on the roadside in Mansehra city and its suburbs.

He said the bench and bar had been engaged for the plantationdrive to keep the city and its suburbs “clean and green” as envisioned by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

The TMO said that people from all walks of life, especially volunteers, were actively taking part in the drive meant to plant thousands of saplings.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2024