Daily Times

Once again Thar is in all sorts of troubles as the unmoving life in drought-hit region of Sindh desperately waits for something miraculous to happen, which can at least save the lives of these downtrodden and socially disowned communities who have been bearing the brunt of ignorance from the governments for years. Provincial government has declared Thar a drought-hit region, but nothing could be done in this regard.

I am surprised to see federal government’s numb approach to help Afghanistan by donating 360 Tons of wheat in a time when people are dying of food insecurity and water scarcity in your own country. How can a government ignore its own people in a time when they frantically need its support? Such off-putting steps of governments in Pakistan have been a root cause behind peoples’ miseries.

Villages are vacant, houses within are locked, sand dunes are crying and people along with their herds are on their way to western districts of Sindh for survival. Nobody knows where this journey of grief be ended but they are confirmed about one thing that only the timely relocation can save what they have.

The life of people dwelling in urban areas of Thar remains unchanged as they have many reliable sources of income, resultantly they don’t have to leave there ancestral places with weeping eyes but they can feel the pain of those who are effected of such calamities.

Let me call the people who beg votes during elections from these deprived masses, opportunists because they usually turn the blind eyes to the core issues of their voters once they get elected as representatives. Being humans, we are ashamed of mentality of such politicians as neither drought is something new for these people nor they have been elected for the first time. Why they don’t put up the case of Tharis to the table? Are they not answerable to the people who have voted them?

After a year or two, the drought regularly occurs in Thar so why doesn’t government set up a project for the effected masses that usually migrate to western districts. The project which can provide some sort of relief to the people and their livestock for a time until drought disappears. Government should initiate manageable relief centres in all five Talukas of the district Tharparker where the effected livestock as well as people can get proper water and fodder so that they at least avoid going far away from their villages.

In Islamkot, Sanat Neeno Ram Ashram is an example of such centres where food is available 24 hours for both humans and livestock. This will not cost too much but will be a giant step towards providing a bit solace to the people of Thar. Such type of Ashrams or food centres can be set up in almost every Taluka of the district to provide people relief.

In Islamkot, Sanat Neeno Ram Ashram is an example of such centres where food is available 24 hours for both humans and livestock. This will not cost too much but will be a giant step towards providing a bit of solace to the people of Thar

Thar Coal Project has been going on in the area. A private company, SECMC is implementing the project in collaboration with Sindh government. Recently, the company has got a major breakthrough as it has reached up to the basic layer of the coal which is to be used to generate electricity. The power house to generate electricity is in last stage of its making while company has confirmed that the work on generating electricity will be kicked off by December this year. Owning to this project, a remarkable social change is been observed in many areas of the district including project hub Islamkot.

I want to draw the attention of government entities that how skilfully the company officials used the 5000 TDS brackish water, which came out during the digging phase of coal reservoirs. Fish nurseries were established on the same water which was something really astonishing for everyone because there was no concept of finding fish in the Thar previously. Moreover, they utilized the same water for planting the trees and vegetables. So, this is how brilliantly the company is using the brackish water and presenting a model of development and prosperity for all those who want to work in Thar.

Although, there are still several environmental reservations, environmentalists have with this mega project but the way company have implanted trees and vegetables in such a huge amount, surly will help the area to combat environmental effects in future. If the company can do this, why doesn’t government? Small brackish water reservoirs can be built in remote villages of the district and the same water should be used to plant trees and vegetable so that the people and their livestock can get suitable fodder for themselves. Moreover, the solar driven RO Plants can also be fixed at those brackish water reservoirs so that people of those villages can get easy access to fresh water.

Sindh government has claimed that it has successfully installed 480 RO plants in various areas of the desert but more than half of those RO plants are in non-operational state owing to inattention of concerned entities on repair and maintenance of such plants so there is dire need to make those RO plants operational once again if the government doesn’t want to install more such types of RO Plants in Thar.

Besides government, Non-governmental agencies have also provided RO plants in Thar but none of those entities ensures the sustainability of those time bound projects. Thar has been a region where non-governmental agencies have worked a lot but what social change and up gradation in standard of living of locals have been brought there by those welfare agencies so far can be seen through the dismal life style of Tharis.

People of this region have a firm belief that neither happiness nor grief can be purchased with the money. It’s their fate that they have taken birth in the land of sorrows where they have to struggle till the last breath so if government supports them, they will survive for some time otherwise death is there looming all the time to catch these downhearted and ill-fated masses.

The writer is a freelance columnist and he can be reached at abbaskhaskheli110@gmail.com

Published in Daily Times, October 10^th 2018.