SWABI: People of Naro Kili area and its suburbs demonstrated outside the deputy commissioner’s office here on Thursday calling for an immediate halt to the “illegal” extraction of sand and gravel from Maneri Badri Nullah for construction projects despite a ban on it by the district administration.

The rally was staged over the last week’s drowning of teenager Umar Sher in the nullah while crossing it.

The protesters, who first reached Karnal Sher Khan Chowk in vehicles and then went to the DC’s office, blamed the death on riverbed mining by “influential” contractors.

They said people couldn’t figure out the depth of water because it was murky and thus, they risked their lives by crossing the nullah.

The protesters demanded effective implementation of the riverbed mining in letter and spirit.

They said contractors extracted sand and gravel at night with the help of heavy machinery.

Members of a Maneri Bala jirga and local government representatives also joined the protesters.

Sitara Welfare Organisation president Tariq Hussain, who led them, met DC Gohar Ali and warned if the administration couldn’t check the illegal activity, then the locals would do it by force as it was a matter of life and death for them.

He also complained that no one from the administration helped find the body of the youngster, who drowned in the nullah, for two days.

Mr Hussain said a four-member Rescue 1122 team went to the place on the first day of the incident but had neither swimmer nor oxygen cylinder.

He said on the second day, the people repeatedly called the team but no one showed up.

The DC promised an early halt to illegal riverbed mining and said the district administration would ensure an effective implementation of the ban without delay.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2023