By GR Junejo

Nagarparkar

The Court of Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate Nagarparkar has declared illegal the excavation being carried out in Karoonjhar Mountain by Frontier Works Organization (FWO), Kohnoor Company and Haji Abdul Qudoos Rajar, and ordered removal of machinery and closing of camps for ever.

The court also directed the SSP Tharparkar to register FIRs under Section 188 of PPC against those found involved in such illegal activities in violation of the court verdict and submitting the report on fifth day of every month.

The Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate Karam Ali Shah released his detailed verdict on Friday in the light of reports filed in the court by all the concerned departments.

On Thursday, the Forest Officer Kashif Shaikh had informed the court that his department has not issued any NOC for excavation. Similarly, the Assistant Director of Culture Department Kelash had submitted that his department has not issued and any NOC and on the contrary, the UNESCO has been approached to get recognized the Karoonjhar Mountain as World Heritage. Livestock Department’s Director Gordhan Das too had submitted similar report stating that Karoonjhar was the sole source of livelihood for humans as well as animals.

The Deputy Director, Mines and Mineral Development, Siddique Mangrio in his report had stated that his department had banned the excavation, however the mining lease documents of Karoonjhar were lying in the office of Director General, who has not yet shared such documents. On this the court had issued notice to the Director General to personally appear in the court along with such documents on January 13, 2022.

Deputy Commissioner Tharparkar, Assistant Commissioner and Mukhtiarkar Nagarparkar failed to submit any report. Advocate Barkat Maitlo, counsel of FWO and Kohnoor Company submitted that the matter was pending in Sindh High Court, where they had filed their point of view.

Referring to all such reports submitted by concerned departments, the Judge in his detailed verdict that according to Mines and Mineral Department, the permanent ban on excavation of granite was imposed in 2007 while the companies involved in mining were showing the leases issued in 2011, which testifies that mining of granite was illegal and the concerned department has not taken any action against the violators. The department also failed to submit any lease document, agreement, survey report, jurisdictions and any NOC issued by any department.

“It has been observed that no state organization was involved in excavation of Karoonjhar Mountain and the FWO and Kohnoor Company were spreading such rumors under a well-hatched conspiracy so that the people do not take any legal action against them. But the fact is that FWO and Kohnoor Company were operating on their own,” the judge said in the verdict.

“The Karoonjhar Mountain and surrounding areas are home to archaeological sites and ancient places having great historical importance being the national heritage. Lying near the Indian border, the Karoonjhar Mountain is like a defence wall. Moreover, this area is great source of livelihood of the poor people and their animals and the mining would destroy all such resources and deprive the poor of their livelihood,” court said.

The court further said that it is the Karoonjhar Mountain that fills the dams and irrigates the lands during rains besides bring beauty to the area that attracts thousands of tourists every year, which is source of revenue for the local people. “The mining of granite directly affects the economy of two hundred thousand people of Nagarparkar.”

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The post Excavation of Karoonjhar Mountain Declared Illegal first appeared on Sindh Courier.

By GR Junejo

Islamkot, Tharparkar

The speakers at ‘Save Karoonjhar Seminar’ demanded immediate cancellation of all the mining licenses and declaring the status of national and wildlife game sanctuary for the Mountain and its surrounding areas. They also called upon international organizations to help save the mountain, unique in its nature.

The seminar was organized on Thursday evening by Thar Technical Forum and attended by a number of technocrats, writers, intellectuals and social and political activists.

Expressing grave concern on excavation of granite, which continues despite protest by the people of Sindh, the speakers lamented that the provincial government and its concerned departments have showed utter disregard to the peoples’ voice.

“The excavation of granite will destroy the ecosystem and cause catastrophic conditions not only for Nagarparkar but also for the entire Thar Desert giving way to natural disasters like earthquakes, droughts and extinction of flora and fauna,” they said.

“The nature created mountains for balancing the earth and Karoonjhar Mountain is one of the ancient mountains with its unique location surrounded by the desert. This mountain is the great source of enriching the soil of Nagarparkar, as it releases the elements during the rainfall increasing the fertility of the area,” they asserted adding that it’s because of this mountain that thousands of Thari people earn livelihood.

Dayal Sahrai, a young writer and head of the Thar Technical Forum while expressing his views feared that excavation of Karoonjhar Mountain may cause 2001-like earthquake. According to him, there are 108 religious and cultural sites in and around the Karoonjhar Mountain. “All the ancient sites including Jain Temples and the Flora and Fauna are under threat due to excavation,” he said.

Ameer Hassan Panhwar of Sindh United Party, Wasand Thari Advocate, President Thar Bar Association, Geological expert Atta Muhammad Rind, Obhayo Junejo of Awami Tahreek, Allah Rakhyo Khoso of Karoonjhar Forum, Zulfiqar Marri, a Soil Science Scholar, Subhan Samejo of Jamaat-e-Islami, Arif Shah of PTI, Bheemraj, Kabir Bheel and others also spoke.

They urged the government to cancel all the mining licenses and declare the Karoonjhar Mountain as protected area being a national heritage. They vowed to continue struggle till the government takes any action and cancels all the mining licenses.

The speaker lauded the local judge who had recently declared mining in Karoonjhar Mountain as illegal and urged the government and district administration to implement the court verdict.

They advised the government and especially the provincial tourism and culture department to promote tourism in the area by providing facilities to the tourists. “The government can generate huge revenue by promoting tourism, as this region is blessed with natural beauty, flora and fauna, archaeological sites, ancient temples, mosque and other sites that are of great attraction for the tourists,” they said.

The speakers also called upon the international organizations to come forward and help save the Karoonjhar Mountain.

At the end of seminar, several resolutions were passed. Earlier, Shahnawaz Khaskheli recited poetry about the Karoonjhar Mountain.

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