AIBAK - The revenue from three coalmines in northern Samangan province declined by 3.2 billion afghanis and plummeted to 2.8 billion afghanis due to in insecurity this year, an official said on Saturday.
Coal enterprise head in the north, Burhanuddin Bahir, told Pajhwok Afghan News the revenue of two coal mines Dahan Tor and Shbashak in Dara-i-Sauf Bala district and Aabkhorak mine in Roi Doab district generated 861 million afghanis last year.
He said due increased insecurity, coal could not be exported to Pakistan and it was major reason behind the declined income.
Ahmad Ali Hussaini, the Dara-i-SaufBala district administrative chief, told Pajhwok that Taliban militants were in control of Dar-i-Sauf and Mazar-i-Sharif-Dar-i-Sauf roads for the past one year and they extorted 4,000 from each vehicle. However the Taliban have not yet commented in this regard.
He said if steps were taken for ensuring security, income of the coalmines would be increased soon. (Pajhwok)