Residents of Tala wa Barfak, Baghlan-i-Markazi and Nehrin districts of northern Baghlan province on Sunday claimed illegal armed men were illegally extracting mines in some parts of the province.
Rahim Arya, a resident of the Tala wa Barfak district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that a newly-discovered ruby mine in Ashraf valley of the district was being extracted by local illegal armed men, causing the government a huge loss.
He said one kilogram of ruby stone was sold for AFN5,000. He said the mine was discovered four years back by local people and its illegal extraction had since been ongoing while the government was yet to take any step in this regard.
Mohammad Ismail, a resident of Shaikh Jalal area of Markaz-i-Baghlan district, told Pajhwok some gatch (plaster) mines in mountains were being illegally extracted in the district.
He said gatch mines produced dozens of tons of plaster per day and people had set up private processing factories as well.
Taj Mohammad, an owner of a gatch plant, said, he had been extracting the mineral illegally over the past seven years and the government had so far said nothing to him.
He said a truck load of gatch was sold for AFN7000 but illegally armed men took AFN1,000 per vehicle and nothing went to the government in revenue.
A number of other residents held similar views and said illegally extraction of such mines continued over the past many years and but the government was taking no action.
However, the provincial director of Mines and Petroleum, Shah Mahmood Fiazan, said only gatch mine in Chasma Mamor Ghiawor area was extracted illegally.
He said some illegally armed men controlled such mines and it was out of their ability to drive them away.
