Daily Times

It was my second journey and things were pleasantly changed campared to past when our Khekhra vehicle (in a wedding party) was running very slowly on that day, but now the scenario has been changed. My four-wheel was running smoothly on the road unfolded linked withcoal-related operations. Earlier, distance between Hyderabad and Islamkot was six to eight hours in a private vehicle, but now it takes four to five hours to reach to taluka Islamkot, district Tharparkar.

Amid scorching sun rays, sand dunes, and heat waves, workers of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Compnay (SECMC) were on their way to coal mine and in-progress power house at Thar Coal’s Block-II, TalukaIslamkot, district Tharparkar.

Due to SECMC, Tharparkar has kicked off developing and enhancing at considerable extent and credit goes to this enthusiastic company, which aims to make electricity by digging lignite coal at Block-II, Tharparkar, which is discovered. The 200 billion rupees project is financially fractioned in 54% share of Sindh government, 12% share of SECMC, and remaining share is to be enjoyed by other partners of the project.It is claimed that: “Thar Badleendo Pakistan” Thar will change Pakistan.

Those cruelpeople who don’t want to see Thar developed always try to malign the efforts of whoever intervene to reduce pain of Tharis. However, about 71% of employment is provided to Thari people under different working sections.At Block-II (the area spread over 96 square kilometers, in which 1.5 Sq km is attributed to mining activities), 450 dumper drivers are currently working and 500 others are being planned to recruit at Block-II in coming days to accelerate the operations. Currently, 4000 people are working in the project for bringing light to the nation.

Some troublemakers have raised unlikely voice against Thar’s coal and unempirical blamed the company saying as there is a threat to environment of the region. The company is implementing a plan for affected families of Block-II to provide them eco-friendly houses free of cost. And each house costs Rs. 35 to Rs. 40 lac rupees. Not only this but contracts of 1.1 billion rupees have been allocated to local contractors of Tharparkar, and 80 to 90 percent people of Block-II are provided jobs in SECMC. One can imagine the magnitude of financial soundness in the families of those who have always been ignored by the past governments. Thar is on track of development and sustainability in many ways.

The sum of development has capability to develop a Thar in broader aspect. Like schemes of rupees five billion have been started, whereas three billion rupees are for hospital infrastructure.

Luckily, I met Wali Mohammad of village Bazejo, waiting for a tea at a local hotel, saidthat the company has changed lifestyle of the people. When I asked him how? He replied: “About 70 to 80 people from my village are working in Engro. Most of them were ignored by the local landlords and feudal lords from working. But now they all work freely and earn butter & bread with dignity. Each person earns Rs. 27000 to Rs. 35000 per month. They have built their own homes and their children have become able to go to school for education”. The views of Wali Mohammad raised a question in my mind that: when SECMC is doing good (through it CSR gesture) for the direct and indirect beneficiaries (Tharis) then why there are a lot of hue and cries regarding SECMC in Tharparkar? Are these cries due to making development in this region or something else is there behind the actions of troublemakers?

Not only this, troublemakers made the Gorano reservoir (the water pond which is most debated in the different sessions) a conflict. A local voiced that Gorano reservoir affected families have been compensated by the company through Sindh government according to Land Acquisition Act 1894. The SECMC gave 1.1 billion rupees to Sindh government to compensate land owners. And the revenue department has successfully distributed 90 crores among the landowners in the first run, and remaining 20 crores will be distributed as other land owners show their ownership documents. Constitutionally, it someone claims for any property, evidence is to be shown in this regard.

It is worrying that a local Thari troublemaker has been trying to malign the fate of Tharis and Tharparkar. This troublemaker is playing with these (frustrated by bad-governance) Tharis and asking them to not cooperate with SECMC at any condition. And the strange to know is this man does not live in his native village, Gorano, but he is well settled in Karachi, where he is running his own business.

One wonders why some anti-development entities do not want to see Tharparkar developed? What government needs to do is to stop troublemakers from anti-development activities to let Thar develop. In addition, doing this will help to and find other sources of development for Tharparkar. The local civil society and business community should stand against such elements who do not want to see Thar as a hub of industries, tourism, education, and well-established infrastructure impacting and benefiting whole the country.

The writer is a columnist and development researcher. He is currently working as Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Officer in Sindh Rural Support Program,