Crushing plants sealed across Chitral

Gul Hamaad Farooqi

CHITRAL: All crushing plants in both Lower and Upper Chitral have been sealed by the Department of Industries and Production.

The department took the action against the crushing plants for violating rules under the Power Crusher Act 2020 which has come into force.

But the crush plant owners and workers, led by Crush Plants Owners Association president Syed Khalid Jan Advocate, staged a peaceful protest on Airport Road, Chitral. 

Mr Jan said total 22 crushing plants working in Upper and Lower Chitral districts were sealed, rendering over 500 workers jobless.

He said under the Power Crusher Act 2020, a crushing plant should be located at a distance of 150 meters from the road and 150 meters from the riverbed. He said this was not possible in Malakand division.

Mr Jan said the geographical structure of ​​land in Malakand Division in general and in Chitral in particular was such that there are mountains on both sides and river flows in the middle. There is not enough space plain area  away from road side and riverbed.

He said the annual license fee for crush plants has been increased from Rs.5,000 to Rs.50,000.Similarly, the annual renewal fee has been increased from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 20,000.

With the closure of these crushing plants, hundreds of people have lost their jobs and all government and non-government development works have come to a halt.

The owners said Chitral is included in the seismic red zone and the use of high quality materials was essential in construction.

Giving a deadline of March 12, they said if the government did not withdraw its decision of sealing the plants, the owners and workers in whole Malakand Division will start a protest on  March 16.

President of Chitral Contractors Association Noor Ahmad Khan was also present on the occasion. He said the contractors\’ association would also join the protest by the crushing plant owners.