Destabilising: Quarrying under houses threatens structures

Minerals department not visited area even after PHC orders

ABBOTABAD:

Residents of Kangrora village in Pind Kargu Khan union council of Abbottabad worry about the ground beneath their feet. This time it isn’t earthquakes or landslides but worrying quarrying activities taking place beneath their houses. Many of them have urged the government to protect their lives and property.

An insider told The Express Tribune, Lara Hill in the village was being mined for its large reserves of soapstone. There are at least 10 mines in the area. The depth of these mines varies from between 2,000 to 4,000 feet.

“Between 10 to 12 trucks of soapstone are extracted every day after the material is blasted out,” he said. “Each mine owner carries out at least two timed blasts underground on a daily basis to extract minerals.”

This method has proved to be particularly intrusive as it undermines the integrity of the structures and has put the life and property of the residents of 15 houses in the village at risk.

Leasing to private contractors

“Our forefathers relocated to this area several decades ago because Lara Hill came under our family property,” said Ejaz, a resident. “My father and grandfather were illiterate and did not raise an objection when the minerals department leased the soapstone reserves to a private contractor from the same area.”



According to Ejaz, three of the five rooms in his house have been damaged by quarrying. He said cracks emerged in many houses in the village “There are ever-widening cracks even in the hill itself,” he said. “Villagers fear a minor tremor could lead to death and destruction.”

Ignoring the court

Ejaz, who is also a retired army troop official, said he has submitted several applications to have the leases cancelled.

“I have written to the PM, CM and K-P governor and Abbottabad DC,” he said. “But I was unable to attract any attention.”

The resident filed a petition with the Peshawar High Court and obtained a decision in his favour. “However, officials of the minerals department have not visited the village to prepare a report on ownership rights as per the high court’s orders,” he said. “Residents have suffered a great deal and could suffer more in future.”

Living in fear

Riaz, another resident, said. “An earthquake of the same magnitude as the October 26 temblor will raze our house to ground as the cracks in the hill are widening.”

Riaz’s five-room house was destroyed due to quarrying activities beneath the ground. “At least 150 kanals of land around houses has been damaged,” he said.

“If the government can’t protect our lives and property, it should pay compensation and relocate us to a safer place,” Riaz added.

Farman, a villager whose house is a few feet away from the hill, told The Express Tribune, quarrying beneath a residential area is against the law.

“However, fundamental rights are being flouted as corruption rules,” he added.

Abdul Rehman, another villager, said children in the village are not insulated from the fear. Many of them overhear their elders speak about the risks of living near the hill and are afraid an earthquake will destroy their homes.

“The mineral department and provincial government would be responsible for any loss of life and property,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th,  2016.