A high-level meeting chaired by Commissioner Malakand Division Syed Zaheerul Islam decides to take action against 63 illegal crushing plants in Swat

Swat: A high-level meeting on illegal crushing and excavation of Swat River and its environs was held under the chairmanship of Commissioner Malakand Division Syed Zaheerul Islam at Commissioner Office Saidu Sharif.  Regional Police Officer Malakand Division Ijaz Khan also attended the meeting.  The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Swat Junaid Khan, Deputy Commissioner Malakand Rehan Gul, officials of Environmental Protection Agency Swat, Mines and Minerals Department, and Irrigation Department.  The meeting discussed in detail the crushing plants set up in and around the Swat River and the excavation work to extract construction materials in the floodplain areas of the Swat River. A detailed briefing was given by the Mines and Minerals Department in this regard.  There was a thorough discussion on the solution.  During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Swat said that all arrangements have been made for action against illegal crushing plants and 63 plants have been identified in this regard.  During the meeting, Commissioner Malakand Division also directed the Mines and Minerals Department to plan and use all resources to find a comprehensive solution to this situation. Syed Zaheer-ul-Islam Commissioner Malakand also directed Swat District Administration in to render full support to the department in this regard.  Presiding over the meeting, he said that illegal excavation and crushing should be stopped immediately, and for that, all the administrative options should be used.  Commissioner Malakand Division said that illegal crushing plants were not acceptable in any case. He said that the natural beauty of Swat was being tarnished due to such illegal activities and no one could be allowed to do so. He warned that injustice and oppression made to the natural environment always return to mankind in the form of great loss.  Therefore, there will be no compromise on this issue.  He directed all concerned departments to work together to restore the natural beauty and cleanliness of the Swat River to its former glory.  He said that the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has enacted effective legislation for the Mines and Minerals sector and if the institutions work diligently, the natural beauty of Swat can be saved from declining and this is our first duty in any case.  Commissioner Malakand Division directed the concerned departments to identify the shortcomings so that the provincial government could make necessary arrangements.  The meeting also decided to continuously monitor various plants and machinery around the Swat River day and night.