PUL-I-KHUMRI (SW): Coal mines in Baghlan remain closed as the firm responsible for extraction blames a local warlord for encroachment.
Commander Mirwais associated with the Hezb-e-Islami is believed to be in-charge of the area where the mines are. Shah Mohammad, director for the department of mines in the province told Salam Watandar a military offensive is in sight to reclaim control of the mines. He added survey and extraction would follow this operation.
Meanwhile, Commander Mirwais has said he has been ensuring security of these mines for the past many years. He charged the Afghan Coal private firm that won the contract to extract the mineral for looting the resources and machinery. He expressed readiness to offer control to the firm if it is willing to properly resume the mining process.
Meanwhile, analyst Mohammad Rafi has urged the Hezb-e-Islami commander to handover the control of these mines to the government in line with the peace accord with the government.
It is worth noticing that the Afghan Coal and Afghan Cement Company was awarded mining contract for 49 years, but the firm has stopped operating citing the warlord’s encroachment as the reason. Salam Watandar wished to have the views of Maroof Sarwari, chief executive of the Afghan Coal and Afghan Cement, but to no avail. Up to 500 laborers got unemployed due to the closure of these mines.
ENDS
