TARINKOAT (Pajhwok): Surveys conducted in the past shown the central Uruzgan province had large scale reservoirs of natural resources, officials of provincial mines department said.
Ahmad JavedKhpalwak, provincial director of mines department, told Pajhwok Afghan News the previoussurveys proved that mines of precious stones and gold had existed in the capital city and some districts of the province.
Provincial mines department was established which had been striving to initiate fresh surveys in a move to explore natural resources in the province, he remarked.
According to a survey conducted during Dawood Khan regime, the existence of florid stones in Bakhodi area of Tarinkot and gold in Chori districtswere confirmed, he added.
In addition, a large quantity of natural reservoirs such as copper, azure, coal, stucco, calcium carbonate, red and white mud existed in the province but an official survey was yet to be conducted, he assured.
He said foreigners had conducted aerial surveys of Uruzgan natural resources but findings of those surveys had not made public so far.
Sources said provincial mines department would yet obtain latest and heavy machinery to launch surveys for exploration of natural resources in the province.
Khpalwak said, the provincial department urged the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum repeatedly to launch survey to identify the volume of natural resourcesbut he got no positive reply so far.
Local officials of mines department said private sector companies had been involved in illegal extraction of mines in the province, asking the government to take notice of the situation.
Director of local mines department assured fresh survey would be launched in Uruzganto identify the volume and quantity of unearthed reservoirs in the province.
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