Deputy Commissioner Swat Junaid Khan chairs high-level meeting to end illegal excavation on river Swat floodplain areas

Swat: An emergency high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Swat Junaid Khan in which important decisions with respect to river swat floodplain areas were taken. The meeting reviewed the situation arising out of illegal excavation and crushing plant for extraction of sand and gravel in the Swat river.  The meeting was attended by all the Assistant Commissioners, Assistant Director Mines and Minerals, SDO Irrigation, Deputy Director EPA, Industrial Development Officer Swat, SDPO Saidu Sharif, and officials of other concerned agencies.

The Deputy Commissioner listened carefully to the suggestions and views of all the stakeholders, and in this regard, the problems and challenges faced by the Mines and Minerals Department were carefully reviewed.

DC Swat strongly instructed all the Assistant Commissioners to work with AD Mines and Minerals and IDO Industry etc. to intensify the crackdown against illegal mining and crushing plants as well as their machinery.  The district administration has already imposed section 144 for this purpose.  Teams from all three departments will be conducting day and night raids along with the police, and action will be taken against the illegal crushing plant and quarrying for gravel and sand under the relevant section of the law. The Assistant Director of Mines and Minerals has been directed to expedite the auction of all blocks under the Minerals Act.  "Let's work together to make the registration process more transparent and easier so that this process can be regularized.  However, action should be taken against the crushing plants which do not comply with the rules and regulations of the Mines and Minerals Department and are operating illegally said Junaid Khan. The Irrigation Department was also directed to work with the Mines and Minerals Department to complete the demarcation of the geographical boundaries of the river bed from Kalam to Landakai. DC Swat said that the operation would continue and at the same time illegal crush plant owners and miners were strongly warned to stop illegal activities.