After visiting the area, Special Assistant on Human Rights requests Sindh Chief Minister for relocating the Kolhi community’s affected village of 170 households
By GR Junejo
Mithi, Tharparkar: Bhave Jo Tar, a village of Kolhi community, located in Islamkot Taluka, is virtually under the siege of Chinese coalmining companies, as they have placed barbed-wire fencing around the village.
“There are 170 households of Kolhi community settled on seven to eight acres of land in Bhave Jo tar village. They all are landless peasants and farmers. Their fields are now owned by various coalmining companies and pasture lands are covered by Shanghai Plant and Sino Sindh Resources Private Limited. The mining companies have placed barbed-wire fence around their houses, which has disturbed their social life,” Veerji Kolhi, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Sindh on Human Rights, stated in a letter to the Chief Minister dated June 10, 2021.
Veerji informed the Chief Minister that last week he visited the protest camp of residents of village, listened to their concerns and later also visited the village. “Two main roads – Islamkot to Thar Coal Road and Nagarparkar Main Road, have covered both sides of the village while other two sides are covered by Shanghai Plant and Sino Sindh Private Limited. The mining companies have placed barbed-wire fence around the houses of villagers,” he stated.
Special Assistant informed the Chief Minister that last year the villagers held protest demonstrations for three months after which the Assistant Commissioner, Mukhtiarkar and representatives of mining companies visited the village and filled the survey forms. “The concerned MNA and MPA had also visited the protest camp of affected villagers assuring them of redressing their grievances, but then never contacted,” he said and added that ‘now the villagers are again protesting since last 22 days in the village.
Veerji Kolhi requested the Chief Minister for issuing orders to the revenue department for relocating the affected village to any other suitable place in Taluka Islamkot where they can get all basic facilities of life. He had also attached list of 170 households and the owners.
It is learnt that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has forwarded the application to Senior Member Board of Revenue for necessary action on June 15, 2021.
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