AIBAK (Pajhwok): The acting governor of northwestern Samangan province on Tuesday suggested a massive shake-up in the administration of Dara-i-Sauf Bala district.
Khairullah Anosh also called for the deployment of a unit to preventing illegal mining in the district. He shared the views with a Presidential Palace delegation and local officials in Aibak.
Leading the delegation, Syed Yahya Akhlaqi said they had been tasked by the National Security Council (NSA) with visiting the province to help increase government revenue and prevent illegal extortion.
He asked local officials to share with them information on unauthorised mining and other violations of law.
Anosh claimed the security situation in the province had improved with the help of residents and revenue collected this year was more than expected.
But he confirmed unlawful coalmine extraction and overloading of trucks in Dara-i-Sauf Bala district. Anosh accused district officers of involvement in the sordid practice.
He said the Governor’s House had sent several teams to the district to prevent illegal activities but failed, because a parliamentarian resisted their efforts.
District chief Ahmad Ali Hussaini confirmed the problems, saying there had been a quantum jump in illegal coalmine extraction over the past eight months.
Closing the tunnels was beyond local officials because powerful individuals were involved in the practice, he added.
Hussaini explained weighing machines were available at both coalmines in the district but truckers overloaded their vehicles — to the detriment of the local economy.
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