Daily Times

Sir: The work on ongoing Thar coal project, jointly ventured by the Sindh government and Engro company, is progressing rapidly by being apathetic to local community’s concerns and cries over it. Indeed, the project, if carried out by consensus among different stakeholders, has no less importance for the national development as well as for local community, but, currently, it is mired in protests and long marches by the infirm against the firm and powerful ones for their livelihood, sustenance, survival and sustainability.

Looking objectively and emphatically, one observes that we are heading towards the opposite side. It is pity that the world is moving towards renewable energy resources, we have just started exploiting the non-renewable energy resources (Thar coal having volume 175 billion tonnes). On world forums, while it keeps promising to limit the global warming by reducing fossil fuel usage, Pakistan itself has increased the usage by exploiting new fields. One the one hand, Sindh government is concerned about environmental impacts that would cause Karachi and Thatta districts being submerged by the end of 21st century; on the other hand, the Sindh government, major shareholder in the coal project Block-2, is determined to complete the project at any cost.

Agonized from lack of potable water, famine like conditions, dying children due to malnutrition and the lowest HDI, Thar’s conditions will aggravate due to so-called development through the coal project.

After all, the people are not against the coal project, they just want their rights protected and life sustained by consensus based peaceful solution. Moreover, to empower the people of Thar and smooth working of the project, fixed share of jobs should be apportioned for them for mutual benefit and harmony.

BHAGWAN BHATTI

Tharparkar