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KABUL (SW): A private construction firm is busy extracting rocks and gravel in Parwan despite cancelling its contract and not paying a penny as tax.
Abdul Ahad Assad, head of the Directorate of Mines in Parwan, told Salam Watandar that the Kabul – Behsud Company had won the contract to develop a seven-kilometer long road in Parwan and bid for extracting rock and gravel from the Dare Kalan mines, but work on the road has stopped and the firm also withdrew its bid for mining.
However, two months since the cancelation of contracts, the firm is still busy in extracting at least ten tucks of rock and gravel on daily basis from the area without paying a penny to the government.
Naimatullah and Tofan, two employees of the firm, told Salam Watandar that up to ten employees work on the site, and they extract at least ten trucks of rock and gravel on daily basis. When efforts to get hold of the owners of the firm failed, we managed to have the views of the engineers associated with the firm. Rehmat Gul, one such engineer, informed that the Kabul – Behsud firm has obtained the contract from a person named Bismillah who has obtained the contract from the Directorate of Mines.
Mohammad Qasim, manager of the road development project, claimed some powerful individuals interfered in their affairs, but the firm has the support of some influential people for mining in the area. But, it remains unclear how has the firm managed to illegally mine in the area after withdrawing the initial contract for legal mining.
The Kabul – Behsud company officials also claim they have the approval of the Hofyan township management for the mining, but in reality the township has nothing to do with the mines in the area.
This is despite the fact that the mining site is at a walking distance from the office of the provincial governor. Salam Watandar wished to have the views of the police headquarters, but no high-ranking officials were present on the first day. One the second day, police chief Mohammad Zaman Mamozay, declined to comment on the matter.
The Dare Kalan area is located west of Parwan city close to the Gul Gonday recreational spot.
ENDS
