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Gahirait residents want the lease deed cancelled.

By Zahiruddin

CHITRAL: The mining exploration activities in the Gahirait Gol conservancy of Chitral will surely lead to destroy the habitat of wild life including kashmir markhor which is rare species, the residents of the area expressed their apprehensions while talking to chitraltimes.com here on Friday. They complained that there is a complete absence of coordination between different government agencies before some developmental activities are launched. They said that Gahirait conservancy is known for its population of kashmir markhor and this year an American hunter was issued hunting permit for 84000 US dollars. They said that the amount accrued from the permit fee is utilized for the collective development of the village through its village conservation committee. The villagers said that the department of mines and industries has at the same time leased out the mines of the surrounding mountains for its exploration. The exploration process of the minerals essentially involves blasting of the rocks by using explosive materials, they said and added that once the process is started the wild life will be forced to migrate from the area as their habitat will stand disturbed. They said that the people of the area derive a large chunk of their sustenance from the pasture and the mineral exploration activities will deprive them of it causing abject poverty. In the summer season, the villagers graze their cattle heads in the nearby pastures which forms a large component of the local economy. They feared that the leasing out of the surrounding mountains for mineral exploration purposes will create multi-faceted problems for the residents of the Gahirait village. The torrential floods can devastate the villages of Gahirat and Syed Abad when explosions take place in the mountains, they said and added that the catchment area of the villages is a steep plateau which will lead to washing away of soil with rain water. The villagers have demanded of the environment department to take up the issue to get the lease deed cancelled to save the flora and fauna of the area.